Plenty of prospects were disappointed to not hear their names called on Thursday night, but draft position doesn’t matter, and future stars will be born on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft. The following players are ranked in the top 32 of my Big Board, and I’ve included a short description and NFL comparison to get a better idea of some notable names still on the board.
No. 9 overall: A.J. Brown (Ole Miss WR)
Brown is an all-around receiver that should be the No. 1 option of a passing attack at the next level with the ability to win outside or in the slot. (NFL comparison: Sterling Sharpe)
No. 13 overall: Greg Little (Ole Miss OT)
Little has all the tools to be an elite left tackle at the next level, particularly in pass protection where he uses poise and length to keep a clean pocket. (NFL comparison: Chukwuma Okorafor)
No. 14 overall: Hakeem Butler (Iowa State WR)
Butler is a dominant downfield target that has the speed to get past defenders and the size to finish over them. (NFL comparison: A.J. Green)
No. 19 overall: Justin Layne (Michigan State CB)
Layne is a prototypical press-man corner with tremendous size and ball skills; I think he has All-Pro potential. (NFL comparison: Jalen Ramsey)
No. 21 overall: D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss WR)
Metcalf has sky-high potential based on his physical attributes, and he should be able to dominate on mostly a vertical route tree at the next level. (NFL comparison: Josh Gordon)
No. 23 overall: Jaquan Johnson (Miami S)
Johnson is perhaps the most intelligent player in the draft as an all-around safety that can hit and cover despite unwarranted size/athleticism concerns. (NFL comparison: Jamal Adams)
No. 24 overall: Byron Murphy (Washington CB)
Murphy is a very smooth cover corner that will also come up to hit people if given the opportunity, and he can play outside or inside. (NFL comparison: Casey Hayward)
No. 27 overall: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford WR)
Arcega-Whiteside is a prototypical possession receiver that projects as an elite red-zone threat for an NFL team. (NFL comparison: Larry Fitzgerald)
No. 28 overall: Greedy Williams (LSU CB)
Williams is a tall, rangy corner that thrives in press-man coverage, but he also has an opportunistic style to fit in a zone-heavy scheme. (NFL comparison: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie)
No. 29 overall: Julian Love (Notre Dame CB)
Love has natural man-to-man cover skills, and NFL coaches should be excited about him as a potential star in the slot. (NFL comparison: Chris Harris Jr.)
No. 30 overall: Rock Ya-Sin (Temple CB)
Ya-Sin is a competitive cornerback with ideal size and athleticism for the position after proving himself in his lone season for the Owls. (NFL comparison: Darqueze Dennard)
No. 31 overall: Isaiah Prince (Ohio State OT)
Prince is a proven right tackle with the frame, technique, and overall demeanor to be a star. (NFL comparison: Jack Conklin)
No. 32 overall: Chase Winovich (Michigan EDGE)
Winovich is a relentless edge defender that brings a ton of energy and should be able to excel in any system/scheme. (NFL comparison: Trent Cole)
WRs just didn’t go. I was surprised by that.
Can’t believe Brown is still there.
YES!
Winovich will be a star in NE
Hakeem Butler took forever to go wtf