I have been looking at all of the players and analyzing the way the draft could play out and have come up with 5 players that I think could end up being elite players that have a shot at being there at 28.
I will provide my opinion on why I believe each player is elite, why each has a shot at being there at 28. I will also make a case for selecting each and also reasons for not selecting each.
1. Tim Williams DE- He's the "War Daddy" we have a shot at. He might be the best pass rusher in the draft and to get him at 28 would be a potential coupe. Quick twitch, explosive, powerful out of the 3 point stance, agile, relentless, can bull rush and at the same time can bend around the outside. He is exactly what we need.
Why he could be there at 28. Off the field problems and linked to the green leafy stuff.
Why should we select him? Because he is exactly what we need.
Why should we not select him? He could end up in trouble like Gregory.
2. Jabrill Peppers SS- Versatile, Dynamic, elite player with blazing speed that shows up on the field that can fill multiple roles, hard hitter with tremendous instincts and closing speed. On defense Could be your starting safety. Like a missile against the run and agile enough to play man coverage. Excellent blitzer as well. On special teams one of the best kick returners in the country. You could also play him on offense a few plays a game along the lines of the Dunbar role.
Why he could be there at 28. A combination of factors. He wasn't a safety in college. There are two other elite safety's in this draft and this is a rare deep draft for safety prospects. He is unproven as a safety.
Why should we select him? He will be an elite safety that also fills other needs. This is based on projection and just seeing what an incredible athlete he is and he has the size to play safety. He could also eliminate the need to carry a 3rd RB freeing up a roster spot to carry an extra DE or other player. He could also be a kick returner although I would reserve him for situations where we really need a big return.
Why should we not select him? I think he would make an amazing safety but that has not been proven on the field. He only played 1 full year of college football and spent most of his time at LB.
3. Marlon Humphrey CB - Perfect size combined with elite speed. Proven against top competition in both man and zone coverage. Active in run support too. Has the size and length to cover tall receivers and at the same time has the blazing speed and quickness to handle the smaller speedy receivers.
Why he could be there at 28. Deep CB class Only played two years in college. Past Alabama CB's have disappointed.
Why should we select him? He is an elite player at a position of need that can play both man and zone and handle tall receivers as well as speedy receivers. He becomes your shut down corner that covers the oppositions best weapon.
Why should we not select him? This is a deep draft for CB's and we can likely land a starting caliber CB as late as the 3rd round.
4. John Ross III WR - Blazing speed and electric with the ball in his hands. Can blow the top off the defense and would create nightmares for opposing DC's. Would make every other offensive weapon we have that much better. Every time he touches the ball he is a threat to take it all the way.
Why he could be there at 28. Limited playing time in college. Injury history. Two other elite receivers rated above him and a deep WR class.
Why should we select him? He is the added dimension that takes our offense to the next level. We can avoid paying Twil the huge salary he will likely demand and receive.
Why should we not select him? Other needs are potentially more important to address and his admittedly incredible accomplishments were limited to basically one year.
5. David Njoku TE - Rare combination of Size, Speed, Agility and proper catching technique for a TE. He could be the next Gronk. He would create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. LB's would have a horrible time trying to cover him and even safety's would have a hard time keeping up with him. Would be dangerous in the red zone with his height and leaping ability and at the same time has the athletic ability to take a screen pass to the house.
Why he could be there at 28. He has limited playing time in college and his ceiling is based on projection. Also it is rare for two tight ends to go in the 1st rd.
Why should we select him? Dangerous player that could take our offense to another level and make the transition away from Witten palpable.
Why should we not select him? Unproven ceiling. Limited time in college. With Witten still here he wouldn't likely get the playing time you would like your 1st rd pick to receive immediately.
You don't normally expect to be able to land an elite talent at 28 but here are 5 players that I believe will prove to be elite NFL players that have a shot at being at 28. Each of these players(with the exception of Williams) are leaving college early and even with limited time in college they have demonstrated that they are elite enough to be probable 1st rd picks. I don't believe any of them would be available late in the 1st if the stayed in college another year.
I enjoyed reading about each of these guys and here are a few tidbits I learned.
Jabrill Peppers was so good in High School he won the state championship at one high school his Freshman and Sophomore years. Then he moved and the school he went to won the state championship his Junior and Senior years. Dayuuumm. He was also the no 2 national recruit when he left High School. He also set the state 100 meter dash record as a high schooler.
Marlon Humphrey was a 5 star recruit from Hoover High school in Alabama and the no 1 prospect in the state. As a high School track star he won the state championship in the 60 and 400 meter dash, 60 meter hurdles and 4 by 400 meter relay. He set state records in all 4. His father was NFL running back and college track star and his mother was a college track star as well.
John Ross is said to be the fastest player in college football. We will find out at the combine but 4.25 is said to be his 40 time.
David Njoku was also a Track and field star. He was a High Jump champion and at the U of M he nailed the 2nd best high jump in U of M history at 2.09 meters. Imagine a guy his size doing that! What a weapon he could be.
ESPN ranked Tim Williams the No 1 ranked high school player In Louisiana coming out of high School.
Anyway, I believe these are the 5 players that could be there at 28 that give us a chance to land an elite player late in the 1st rd. Thanks for reading.
