Ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, which will take place in Las Vegas on April 23-25, NFL Network draft guru and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah ranks his top 50 draft-eligible prospects.
1) Chase Young, Edge
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
Young is a tall, long and athletic defensive end. As a pass rusher, he explodes off the ball and gains ground in a hurry. He uses a quick swipe move and also has the ability to control the wrists of blockers. He can convert speed to power and is effective on loops and games. He does have a little tightness at the top of his rush. Against the run, he sets the edge easily and uses his quickness to slip blocks and create chaos behind the line of scrimmage. Overall, Young is an All-Pro talent, reminiscent of Julius Peppers and Mario Williams.
2) Derrick Brown, DT
School: Auburn | Year: Senior
Brown has excellent size, power and athleticism for the defensive tackle position. As a pass rusher, he has a quick first step and uses his hands very effectively. He wins with a violent club/swim move, a rip move or a nifty up-and-under counter move. Against the run, he easily holds the point of attack. The Auburn product creates separation from blockers with an explosive punch, which allows him to close quickly and make plays. His effort is consistent. Overall, this is a complete player capable of dominating on all three downs. He'll be a difference maker on Day 1.
3) Joe Burrow, QB
School: LSU | Year: Senior (RS)
Burrow has solid size for the position and he possesses many elite qualities. He operates out of the gun in the LSU spread attack and he is extremely accurate, efficient and instinctive. He is very smooth in his drop and he has the ability to process through his reads at a rapid pace. He throws with anticipation and he can naturally layer the ball over and under coverage. He doesn't have top shelf arm strength when driving the ball outside the numbers. He relies more on timing/touch. He doesn't flinch versus pressure when he sees something he likes down the field. If he needs to buy time, he can slide and climb the pocket with excellent feel/awareness. He has a nice burst when he leaves the pocket and he is more than a capable runner. Overall, Burrow lacks special arm strength but his combination of poise, accuracy and toughness is very appealing.
4) Isaiah Simmons, LB/S
School: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)
Simmons is an extremely versatile, athletic defensive chess piece. He is a long, rangy athlete who lined up at linebacker, over the slot and in the deep middle for Clemson, thanks to his diverse and unique skill set. Against the pass, he has terrific range and instincts from the deep middle. He has the speed and agility to match up with top-flight tight ends and backs underneath. He is an explosive blitzer off the edge and in through the middle. Simmons overpowers running backs in protection. Against the run, he takes good angles and his speed allows him to make plays from the back side. He will struggle at times if he has to take on blocks on the edge. Overall, Simmons is built for today's NFL and his role could change week to week, depending on the opponent.
5) Jeff Okudah, CB
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
Okudah has ideal size, length, twitch and competitiveness for the position. He is very comfortable and effective in both press and off coverage. He is patient in press and very fluid/smooth when he opens up. He does a nice job of staying on top versus vertical routes and he can locate the football down the field. He has the agility to mirror underneath. In off coverage, he explodes out of his plant and he is a dependable open field tackler. This is a very clean player with a very high floor and ceiling.
6) Tua Tagovailoa, QB
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Tua lacks ideal height for the position but he has quick feet, eyes and release. He primarily operates in the gun but he will take some snaps under center. He is very crisp and urgent in his setup. He throws off a firm platform and he spins the ball really well. He always throws with the proper pace on slants and crossers. He doesn't have an overpowering arm but he can still place balls in tight windows. He understands how to hold and manipulate safeties with his eyes. He makes good decisions in the RPO game. He is a nifty runner but he prefers to buy time behind the line and remain in passing mode. He did struggle with identifying some underneath defenders when in the red zone. He is coming off a serious hip injury and that must be factored into his evaluation. Overall, Tua is the ultimate point guard. If he can remain healthy, he has the potential to be one of the NFL's most efficient passers.
7) Javon Kinlaw, DT
School: South Carolina | Year: Senior
Kinlaw is a hulking defensive tackle prospect. As a pass rusher, he has a sudden get-off and he's quick to shoot his hands and drive back blockers. He will also incorporate a push/pull move on occasion. He does need to broaden his arsenal of moves, but there is tremendous upside. Against the run, he easily locks out single blocks, but he gets washed by angle blocks and double teams. His effort is solid. Kinlaw showed out against elite competition, but he played down to the level of lesser opponents. Overall, Kinlaw's best football is in front of him and he has
Pro Bowl potential.
8) CeeDee Lamb, WR
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior
Lamb is a tall, lean wideout with top-tier hands, toughness and production. He lines up inside and outside. He is a smooth, fluid route runner and understands how to set up cornerbacks. He also has a good feel in zone. He attacks the ball when working back to the quarterback and tracks the ball naturally down the field. Lamb doesn't have elite speed, but he can find some extra juice when the ball is in the air. He is at his best after the catch, as he consistently breaks tackles and is also very elusive. Overall, Lamb is a polished player who is equally explosive and reliable.
9) Jerry Jeudy, WR
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Jeudy is an elite route runner with outstanding burst, body control and awareness. He explodes off the line and uses his quickness to avoid press coverage. His snap at the top of the route is as good as any prospect in the last decade. He has the ability to make plays outside of his frame, but he will have some concentration lapses, which lead to drops. After the catch, he is very slippery and elusive, although he isn't going to break a lot of tackles. Overall, Jeudy is a loose athlete with elite route skills and he should emerge as a high-volume production guy very early in his career.
10) Mekhi Becton, DT
School: Louisville | Year: Junior
Becton is a massive left tackle prospect with a similar size/skill set to former first-rounder Bryant McKinnie. In pass protection, he has surprisingly nimble feet and uses his length to steer defenders. Even when he fails to land his punch, he can absorb rushers with his girth. He needs to improve his awareness versus games up front. He is a dominating run defender and collects knockdowns by the bunches. He latches on and uses his upper strength to torque and toss. He isn't as effective when working in space. Overall, Becton has areas to improve -- mainly balance and awareness -- but he is a rare athlete at this size and his upside is through the roof.
11) Jedrick Wills, OT
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Wills lined up at right tackle for Alabama. He has average height for the position and he's carrying a little extra weight. An excellent pass protector, Wills is quick out of his stance and he's an easy mover versus speed and counters. He is a natural knee bender and he reworks his hands to maintain leverage/control. He is aware versus games and stunts. In the run game, he is at his best when working up to the second level. He also flashes the ability to roll his hips and uproot defenders over his nose. He's
never on the ground. Overall, Wills doesn't have the ideal body type, but he has all of the necessary tools to be a 10-year starter at either tackle spot.
12) Henry Ruggs III, WR
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Ruggs has an unbelievable blend of speed and toughness. He lines up outside and in the slot. He ran a lot of slants and take-off routes in Alabama's offense -- and he was special on both. Ruggs boasts world-class speed -- he truly explodes off the line and after the catch. He needs to continue to refine his releases against press (he gives up his chest too often), but not many defenses will want to take that chance against his speed. His hands are good not great and he does allow too many balls into his chest. After the catch, he runs away from most defenders while occasionally running through them. He is outstanding on jet sweeps and also has kick-return value. Overall, Ruggs has Tyreek Hill-type ability. He will be a matchup nightmare every week.
13) Tristan Wirfs, OG
School: Iowa | Year: Junior
Wirfs is a big, powerful offensive tackle. In pass protection, he launches out of his stance and hasn't had issues versus outside speed rushers. However, he
has experienced issues against inside counter moves. He over-sets and struggles to redirect back inside, allowing too many pressures in the games I studied. When he can land his punch, it's over. His hands are so strong and he has the power base to end the play right there. In the run game, he is very strong and aggressive. He creates a ton of movement, but also will overextend and fall off at times. He's on the ground too much. I love his aggressive demeanor, but he needs to play more under control. Overall, I believe he can survive at tackle, but he'd benefit from playing with neighbors on both sides. I think Wirfs has All-Pro potential at guard.
14) D'Andre Swift, RB
School: Georgia | Year: Junior
Swift is a compact running back with excellent patience, vision and quickness. On inside runs, he lets things develop before exploding through the line of scrimmage. He has the vision to see and set up second- and third-level defenders. He has make-miss ability in tight quarters, but prefers to drop his shoulder and seek contact. He has enough speed to capture the corner on outside runs. He is a cradle catcher in the passing game, but it's effective. In pass protection, he likes to cut block and he's reliable. Overall, Swift has a similar skill set to
Josh Jacobs, and I expect comparable results at the next level.
15) Xavier McKinney, S
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
McKinney was an instinctive safety for the Tide and he also spent some time playing nickel linebacker. When aligned deep, he is fluid in his movement and he's quick to key/read and drive on the football. His range is excellent. While he can effectively locate the ball, he will occasionally lose a 50/50 battle down the field. He is a dependable wrap/drag tackler. He has a very good feel as a blitzer, displaying timing and burst. Overall, McKinney is an intelligent, versatile defender and he should be very effective in multiple roles.
16) Patrick Queen, LB
School: LSU | Year: Junior
Queen is an undersized linebacker with outstanding burst, instincts and coverage ability. Against the pass, he is very fluid in his drops and his change-of-direction ability is excellent. He has good instincts to jump routes and he closes to the flat in a hurry. He is a very dynamic blitzer (see him flat-back an offensive guard in the Texas A&M game). In the run game, he is quick to key/read and shoot gaps. He does get uprooted at times because of his size, but he usually finds a way to beat blockers to spots. Overall, Queen is a high-tempo playmaker at the second level and should impact all three downs.
17) Justin Jefferson, WR
School: LSU | Year: Junior
Jefferson is a tall, slender wideout with off-the-charts production. He lines up in the slot and out wide. He is an outstanding route runner. He does a nice job getting on the toes of cornerbacks and then creating separation out of the break point. He does a lot of work in traffic and will extend and finish before taking hard contact. He can play above the rim down the field and can contort his body to make special catches. He doesn't have elite speed, but he's plenty fast enough. After the catch, he has some wiggle and will fight for extra yards. Overall, Jefferson is a polished receiver and should make an immediate impact at the next level.
18) Ross Blacklock, DT
School: TCU | Year: Junior (RS)
Blacklock is a dynamic interior defensive lineman. As a pass rusher, he launches out of his four-point stance and his bull rush is ferocious. He creates immediate knock-back. He is ultra-twitchy. He flashes a long-arm move where he can jolt, separate and finish. As a run defender, he successfully stacks and sheds single blocks, but he needs to improve his awareness and effectiveness versus double teams, where he gets washed down the line. He does have some durability concerns, but his skill set is special. Overall, Blacklock comes with some risk, but he's worth it. He has the potential to develop into a top-flight interior pass rusher.
19) Brandon Aiyuk, WR
School: Arizona State | Year: Senior
Aiyuk is one of my favorite players in the draft class. He has a solid, muscular frame and plays an aggressive brand of football. He is explosive in his release and he attacks the leverage of cornerbacks before suddenly snapping off his route. Aiyuk doesn't run a wide variety of routes, but he's very efficient and effective. He has strong hands and can finish in traffic. He is at his best after the catch, breaking tackles and making people miss without gearing down. Those skills serve him well as a returner, too. Overall, Aiyuk will need a little time to develop as a complete route runner, but he's a tough, explosive playmaker with added special teams value.
20) Jordan Love, QB
School: Utah State | Year: Junior (RS)
Love has ideal size, arm strength and athletic ability. He operates in the gun and he's very fluid and smooth in his setup. He throws from a variety of platforms and arm angles. The ball jumps out of his hand. He is at his best on skinny post drive throws and over the top deep balls. His decision making was very concerning this season. He forces too many balls into crowds and he doesn't ever give up on a play -- to a fault. His supporting cast isn't very good, but he still fell into too many bad habits. He uses his athletic ability to escape and extend plays, but there are occasions when he fails to climb and reset his feet. Overall, Love is a raw prospect who will need some time to develop. There is risk with him, but the payoff could be huge.
21) Justin Herbert, QB
School: Oregon | Year: Senior
Herbert has exceptional size, mobility and arm strength. He has quick feet in his setup and he bounces on his toes once he gets to the top of his drop. His motion can be a little robotic at times but the ball comes out tight with high RPMs. He has a big arm but his placement is a little inconsistent. His front side flies open at times, impacting his accuracy. That can be corrected. He has shown the ability to touch up the ball underneath and makes some impressive throws on the run. He is a very good runner. He builds speed and he is effective on zone reads. The biggest area he needs to improve is his lack of anticipation. He waits too long to cut it loose. According to everyone at Oregon, his work ethic and character are off the charts. Overall, Herbert has some special physical tools, but he needs to play with less caution and learn to embrace an attacking mentality.
22) Laviska Shenault, WR
School: Colorado | Year: Junior
Shenault is arguably the best athlete in the entire draft class. He is tall with a thick, muscular build. He lined up everywhere in Colorado's offense -- out wide, in the slot, at running back and he even took snaps as a Wildcat quarterback. Shenault isn't a nuanced route runner, but he is a monster with the ball in his hands. He excels on quick hitters, fly sweeps and vertical routes. He has strong hands and his transition into a running back is immediate after the catch. He steps through tacklers and has a burst to finish. He is very competitive. Overall, Shenault will need time to develop into a fully polished wideout, but he can have an immediate impact for a creative offensive coordinator. He's too big, strong and fast to
not contribute. His drafting team just has to figure it out.
23) C.J. Henderson, CB
School: Florida | Year: Junior
Henderson is an extremely explosive and athletic cornerback prospect out of Florida. He played outside and inside on the games I studied. He is very physical in press coverage, landing a two-hand jam consistently. He is extremely loose and fluid to open up and mirror all over the field. He is rarely out of position and possesses rare makeup speed when he is caught in a bind. You see that same burst when he's in off coverage and the ball is thrown in front. He does need to improve on finding the ball down the field, as he's often a little late to look back. The major concern with this player is tackling. He has way too many misses and that must be improved. Overall, Henderson has some elite traits and could emerge as the top cornerback in this class, but his tackling must be addressed.
24) K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge
School: LSU | Year: Sophomore (RS)
Chaisson primarily lined up as a stand-up rusher in the Tigers' defensive system. He is long, explosive and very athletic. As a pass rusher, he relies more on pure get-off speed and athletic ability than technical skill. He is at his best as a looper, where he can find a crease and explode through. He has yet to figure out how to use his length to his advantage on a consistent basis. Against the run, he flashes the ability to stack and hold the point, but he's at his best slipping blocks and creating havoc. His speed and effort show up on the back side of plays. Overall, Chaisson is more athlete than football player right now, but he has all of the raw tools to be a dominant force at the next level.
25) Andrew Thomas, OT
School: Georgia | Year: Junior
Thomas is a thick, powerful offensive tackle. In pass protection, he has average foot quickness in his set, but he possesses a powerful punch and strong anchor. He gets in trouble at times because his base is too wide; he lunges and loses balance. He plays with good overall awareness. He is a dominant run blocker. He can uncoil and uproot defenders over his nose and has the strength to wash defenders down the line of scrimmage on down blocks. He is effective working up a level when he can stay on one track, but he struggles to redirect in space. Overall, some teams view Thomas as a guard, but I believe he can hold up at tackle if he improves his balance issues.
26) Grant Delpit, S
School: LSU | Year: Junior
Delpit is a tall, fast free safety who also possesses the ability to play in the slot. From the deep middle, he trusts his eyes and explodes to the ball, whether run or pass. He has outstanding range and I trust his ball skills. His numbers dropped this past season, but that was the result of some nagging injuries. He is fluid and smooth when lined up in the slot. He is aggressive as a force defender, but he has too many fly-by missed tackles. Everyone at the school raves about his leadership and intangibles. Overall, Delpit needs to clean up some tackling issues, but he has
Pro Bowl potential at free safety.
27) Jaylon Johnson, CB
School: Utah | Year: Junior
Johnson offers an enticing size/speed combination for the position. He plays a lot of press-bail technique, but also flashes a firm two-hand jam. He is very fluid to open up and has plenty of long speed to carry vertical routes. He also excels when he slides inside to cover the slot. He was rarely challenged down the field in the games I studied. His ball production was outstanding in 2018 and opposing teams chose to avoid him this fall. He is very aggressive versus the run. He closes quickly before coming to balance and delivering firm tackles. Overall, Johnson is very talented and should be a Day 1 starter outside with the potential to cover in the slot, as well.
28) A.J. Epenesa, Edge
School: Iowa | Year: Junior
Epenesa is a skilled pass rusher with outstanding size, strength and effort. He has average get-off quickness, but he boasts strong hands, can flip his hips and is a reliable finisher. He has a variety of hand techniques, including a violent club move, swipe move and a push/pull move. He also will flash a long-arm move with his inside arm. He has a great feel when an OT is leaning outside, which creates an opening for his up-and-under inside-counter move. Against the run, he can hold the point of attack easily. His effort on the back side is outstanding, but he lacks the burst to make a ton of plays from distance. Overall, Epenesa has a very high floor as a prospect. He should be a consistent 8-to-10-sack performer at the very least.
29) Tee Higgins, WR
School: Clemson | Year: Junior
Higgins is a tall, long and rangy wideout with elite high-point skills. He uses a quick foot fire to defeat press coverage. He is a smooth, long-striding route runner. He is at his best when on the move: slants, posts and go routes. He lacks snap at the top of his route when working back downhill. He has incredible ball skills down the field. He can elevate and also adjust to the back-shoulder ball. After the catch, he is very smooth and slippery. Overall, Higgins isn't going to do a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the field, but he's very effective on the outside and provides big-play ability.
30) Marlon Davidson, Edge
School: Auburn | Year: Senior
Davidson has average height and a thick/square build. He typically lined up at defensive end for the Tigers, but also possesses the ability to slide inside. As a pass rusher, he is devastating when he has a runway. He generates a lot of power in his bull rush and has an array of hand moves he can incorporate on the move. He doesn't have an elite get-off, but he wins in the ways just mentioned. He destroys tight ends with his strength and power combination. Against the run, he uses his length to stack blocks, and his effort to pursue is outstanding. Overall, Davidson has some inside/outside flexibility and his production should carry over to the next level.
31) J.K. Dobbins, RB
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
Dobbins is a compact running back with tremendous power, balance and instincts. He is at his best on inside runs. He doesn't hesitate, accelerating into contact and breaking a ton of tackles. He has a nifty inside spin move and can make second- and third-level defenders miss in space. He has enough speed to get to the perimeter, but he always looks to turn upfield as soon as possible. In the passing attack, he is effective in the screen game, but he has more work to do as a route runner. He had two tough drops vs. Clemson in the College Football Playoff, but he was reliable in every other game I studied. He is very aware in pass protection -- he can drop his weight and anchor linebackers. Overall, Dobbins' game should translate very well to the next level. He'll be a dependable starter immediately.
32) A.J. Terrell, CB
School: Clemson | Year: Junior
Terrell is a tall, slender cornerback prospect with a strong resume in a variety of coverages and techniques. In press coverage, he uses an effective one-hand jam before turning and opening up. He can carry vertical routes with his speed, but he is a little bit sticky when he's forced to gear down and come back downhill. In off coverage, he has a quick pedal, but there is a brief pause in his plant/drive. He has very good ball awareness down the field. He is a reliable tackler and an outstanding blitzer from the boundary corner spot. He had a rough outing against LSU in the national title game, but was otherwise very steady this fall. Overall, Terrell has some tightness, but he's a very solid player who should emerge as a quality No. 2 cornerback for his drafting team.
33) Austin Jackson, OT
School: USC | Year: Junior
Jackson brings an intriguing blend of size, athleticism and upside. In the passing game, he has the quickness to easily cut off speed rushers and he plays with good knee bend and balance. He needs to improve on his punch, as he's often late to shoot his hands and gives up his chest, leaving him vulnerable to the bull rush. He flashes the ability to settle down after giving ground, but this needs to improve. In the run game, he has the quickness to reach/cut off on the back side and he does a good job of staying attached on the front side. His overall play strength needs to improve, but he's only 20 years old and that should come in time. Overall, Jackson isn't ready to play at a high level right away, but the upside is tantalizing.
34) Cesar Ruiz, C
School: Michigan | Year: Junior
Ruiz is an extremely consistent, physical and aware center. In pass protection, he has a tight punch and immediate anchor. His lower body is outrageously strong. He is very aware vs. twists/stunts. He lacks elite foot quickness, but he doesn't have any issues sliding and redirecting to stay square vs. defenders. In the run game, he latches and runs his feet to create movement. He is outstanding on combo blocks, staying under control, locating and walling off linebackers. His lack of foot quickness shows up on outside pulls. Overall, Ruiz reminds me of
Travis Frederick coming out of Wisconsin.
35) Kenneth Murray, LB
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior
Murray is an off-the-ball, run-and-hit linebacker. He is at his best when he's free to chase and make plays to the perimeter. He closes in a heartbeat and he is an explosive tackler. He struggles when he has to play off blocks and locate the football through the trash inside, as he doesn't uses his hands and gets swallowed up. He has had some success dipping and slipping blocks. He is very athletic in coverage versus running backs, easily mirroring them in space. He is also a very dynamic blitzer. Overall, I believe Murray would be best served to play outside and off the ball, where he would be afforded clean sight lines to attack with his speed.
36) Jonathan Taylor, RB
School: Wisconsin | Year: Junior
Taylor is an ultra-productive running back with outstanding strength and speed. On inside runs, he's sudden, carries his pads low to the ground and shows the balance to bounce off tacklers while keeping his legs alive. He isn't overly shifty, but he avoids taking flush hits and he always falls forward for extra yardage. He has plenty of speed to capture the edge and once he gets in space, he can run away from the crowd. In the passing game, he is very effective on screens, where he can set up his blocks and collect big chunks of yardage. He trusts his hands and attacks the ball when he's out in the route. He didn't have a lot of reps in pass protection in the games I studied. Overall, Taylor is an explosive home run hitter with upside in the passing game.
37) Neville Gallimore, DT
School: Oklahoma | Year: Senior (RS)
Gallimore is an extremely twitched up and explosive defensive tackle. As a pass rusher, he explodes off the ball and has strong, ferocious hands. He loves to use his club/swim move and it's very effective. Even when he doesn't get home as a rusher, he collapses the pocket with his raw power. Against the run, he flashes the ability to stack/toss blocks but he also possesses the quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt in the backfield. The biggest area he needs to improve is his finish. He's always around the ball, but the production doesn't match his talent. Overall, Gallimore is going to be a better pro than college player. His arrow is pointed up.
38) Kristian Fulton, CB
School: LSU | Year: Senior
Fulton has good size for the position and he's very fluid, smart and competitive. In press coverage, he switches up his technique. He's primarily patient, but he'll occasionally land a quick two-hand jam. He lacks elite top speed and he's had some issues timing his leap on jump balls down the field. From off coverage, he's very aware and shows some pop out of his plant/drive. He is very aggressive in run support. He fights through blocks and is very reliable in space. Overall, Fulton has some flaws, but I'll bet on his intangibles and toughness.
39) Justin Madubuike, DT
School: Texas A&M | Year: Junior (RS)
Madubuike is a strong, versatile defensive lineman. He aligns at every spot along the defensive front, but he's best suited as a 3 technique, on the edge of the guard. Against the pass, he is very quick to shoot his hands and generate knock-back. He has a quick club/rip move and is very adept at working through half the opponent instead of rushing down their numbers. His effort is outstanding. He is a dominant run defender. He excels at stacking blockers, separating and locating the football. Overall, Madubuike isn't an elite pass rusher, but he's impactful and can dominate on early downs.
40) Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB
School: LSU | Year: Junior
Edwards-Helaire is a short, compact runner with quick feet, power and prowess in the passing game. On inside runs, he's a quick-stepper with darting lateral agility to slide and avoid contact. He runs extremely low to the ground and is tough for opponents to square up. He drives his legs on contact and pulls out of a lot of tackles. He is quick to capture the perimeter and refuses to run out of bounds, choosing instead to fight for extra yards. He is outstanding in the passing game. He can line up anywhere in the formation and he runs clean/crisp routes. He catches the ball outside his frame very smoothly and he's outstanding after the catch. His ability to start/stop in space is elite. He is rarely used in pass protection because of his value out in the route. Overall, Edwards-Helaire has a very similar skill set to
Austin Ekeler -- I envision a similar role/results at the next level.
41) K.J. Hamler, WR
School: Penn State | Year: Sophomore (RS)
Hamler is an undersized wideout with rare explosiveness. He lines up out wide, in the slot and even takes some reps in the backfield. He is extremely sudden in his release, destroying the cornerback's cushion in a hurry. He excels on slants, shallow crossers and vertical routes. He simply runs right by everyone on the field. Despite his limited size/frame, he's very effective working in traffic. He can extend, pluck and finish before absorbing contact. He is a blur after the catch. Overall, size is the only negative in this evaluation. In a league starved for speedy playmakers, Hamler should be in high demand.
42) Damon Arnette, CB
School: Ohio State | Year: Senior (RS)
Arnette is an aggressive cornerback prospect with a good combination of size, speed and ball skills. He is very physical in press coverage and has plenty of speed to stay on the hip versus vertical routes. He displays some rigidity when he has to flip his hips and open up underneath. He is very twitchy when he plants and drives on the ball from off coverage. He doesn't have any issues locating and playing the football. He is very anxious to get involved in the run game and has a high batting average as a tackler. Overall, Arnette has some stiffness, but he's capable of playing at a high level in man or zone schemes.
43) Jeff Gladney, CB
School: TCU | Year: Senior (RS)
Gladney lacks ideal size/bulk for the position, but he excels because of his blend of quickness and feistiness. He plays outside and inside. He is at his best in off coverage, where he uses a quick, fluid pedal before efficiently planting and driving on balls thrown in front of him. He doesn't waste steps. He is always in good position, but will get walled off at times by bigger wideouts. When he does press, he usually sits at 2 yards and carries his hands low before trying to catch wideouts and re-route them. His overall ball awareness is very good. He does a good job coming to balance before tackling runners and he's also an effective blitzer. Overall, Gladney needs to get a little stronger, but I love his scheme versatility and toughness.
44) Zack Baun, LB
School: Wisconsin | Year: Senior (RS)
Baun is a slightly undersized outside linebacker with excellent athleticism and versatility. He spends a lot of time playing over tight ends and gets the best of them in the run and pass games. As a rusher, he has a good initial burst and can really bend at the top of his rush. He has a nifty inside counter move and he can get skinny before closing on the quarterback. He mixes in a stutter/bull rush, but usually stalls out after generating some push. He is very athletic as a dropper in coverage. He is very good as a back-side run defender because of his burst and effort. Teams will differ on where to play him at the next level. He reminds me of former USC LB
Uchenna Nwosu, someone whose versatility the
Chargers have tapped into. I'd do the same with Baun.
45) Michael Pittman Jr., WR
School: USC | Year: Senior
Pittman is a tall, muscular wideout who had excellent production for the Trojans. He lines up out wide and he uses his upper strength to power through press coverage. He builds speed as he goes and he is a jump-ball specialist down the field. He high points the ball consistently and big brothers opposing cornerbacks routinely. He doesn't have elite speed, but he's very efficient getting in and out of breaks for such a big receiver. He is at his best after the catch, when his competitiveness and strength form a winning combination. He refuses to go down on first contact. Pittman has earned a reputation as one of the best special teams players in the country for his ability to cover and block punts. Overall, Pittman reminds me a lot of
Mike Williams, and he can make an impact on all four downs because of his special teams value.
46) Trevon Diggs, CB
School: Alabama | Year: Senior
Diggs has elite size, athleticism and ball skills. (He also played wide receiver and returned kicks during his career at Alabama.) He uses an effective one-hand jam in press before opening up and staying on the hip. He's fluid for such a big cornerback. It's important for him to stay in phase with the wideout because he lacks elite recovery speed. From off coverage, he reads through the wide receiver to the quarterback and has a good feel for jumping routes and making plays. His ball skills are outstanding -- as you'd expect, considering his brother is
Stefon Diggs. He does need to improve as a tackler in space. Overall, Diggs has some room to develop, but he will excite teams looking for a big cornerback to match up with guys like
Mike Evans and
Courtland Sutton.
47) Jacob Eason, QB
School: Washington | Year: Junior (RS)
Eason is a big, physical pocket passer. He spends time under center and in the shotgun. He has average foot quickness in his setup and is primarily a stationary thrower. He rarely slides or climbs in the pocket. When faced with pressure, he has a bad habit of turning his back to the rush and attempting to spin out of trouble. When everything is clean around him, he can really deliver some wow throws. He generates tremendous velocity without engaging much of his lower body. He flashes the ability to scan the field but he often knows where he wants to go before the snap. He needs to improve his anticipation and touch. Overall, Eason needs to improve his pocket feel and anticipation, but he does have an appealing arm to develop.
48) Bradlee Anae, Edge
School: Utah | Year: Senior
Anae lined up at defensive end for the Utes. As a pass rusher, he doesn't possess a dynamic first step, but he anticipates the snap count and shows the ability to win early in the down. He is very good at the top of his rush because of his hand usage and ability to flatten back to the quarterback. He also understands when a tackle sets too hard to the outside, which opens up his inside counter move. His motor is outstanding. Against the run, he can hold the point of attack routinely, but he struggles when isolated in space versus athletic backs and quarterbacks. Overall, Annae isn't an ultra-twichy athlete but he's a very productive player.
49) Terrell Lewis, Edge
School: Alabama | Year: Junior (RS)
Lewis is a raw, athletic edge defender. At Alabama, he split his time between standing up and aligning in a three-point stance. As a pass rusher, he has an elite get-off and flashes a nasty long-arm move. He is also very effective on twists and stunts because of his burst and ability to get skinny through the line. He does need to do a better job reworking his hands. He has freaky change-of-direction skills in space when he's asked to drop in coverage. Against the run, he is best on the back side, where he can use his speed to close ground. He turns his shoulder into blocks too often on the front side. There are durability concerns with this player. Overall, Lewis is a raw talent similar to what
Danielle Hunter was coming out of LSU. That third-round gamble paid off big for the
Vikings.
50) Jake Fromm, QB
School: Georgia | Year: Junior
Fromm is a tough player to evaluate. He doesn't have any wow physical traits, but he's produced a lot of wins because of his poise, toughness and intelligence. He is a rhythm and timing passer who's at his best when he hits his back foot and gets the ball out early. He has very good pocket awareness and he will hang in until the last second to deliver the ball. He doesn't generate a lot of RPMs, but he throws a very catchable ball. I believe he has the potential to add velocity once he taps into his lower body more consistently. Overall, Fromm won't fit in every scheme, but he has starter potential in the right situation.
Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter @MoveTheSticks.
