My first projection for 2027 published on 4th November
#1 LA Chargers — Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State)
I think he’s more Julio Jones than Calvin Johnson but it hardly matters. He’s been massively productive for Ohio State and given his physical profile at 6-3 and 225lbs with 4.4 speed, there’s a base level of performance you’d expect from him at the next level. There are multiple examples on tape where he just reaches out one of his massive hands and plucks the ball out of the air. You’re talking about a catching radius as good as you’ll find for any receiver — and even a quarterback who can be erratic at times will be bailed out by Smith’s incredible range. If you put him in mismatch situations, such as working the seam, he can just run away from everyone and provide big chunk plays over the middle. He could and should be a production machine in the red zone. He keeps his eyes on the ball and tracks well. When Julian Sayin’s often underthrown passes challenge him, that’s where his big frame becomes a difference maker. You can’t really knock him off stride or disrupt him. When he wants the ball, he more or less gets it. After the catch, once he builds his acceleration, he can run away from anyone. It is worth noting that he isn’t sudden or twitchy but has more of a gliding, smooth running style. Combined with his size he’s been a nightmare to stop, particularly when he can use longer strides to run downfield. I’m not convinced he’ll be any less difficult to defend at the next level but he’s not going to explode off the break and just separate with immediacy.
#2 Tennessee — Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina)
Leonard Moore is an excellent player but when a prospect like Stewart comes along you have to take them. There are just so few players with his combination of length, pure power and quickness. He is a potential game-wrecker in a league with fewer and fewer pure defensive playmakers in the trenches. People will linger on his team suspension earlier this season after he had a tantrum against Alabama and started flouncing and pouting. He’s not the most mature individual at the moment, as we saw with his ridiculous ‘gun’ celebration after bringing down Jaxson Dart in a game. But he isn’t a Jalen Carter type character concern and when players with this skill-set enter the draft, they don’t last long. He can dip around attempted blocks and just explode to the QB. His length and closing burst are major weapons. There’s very clear evidence of him extending his arms to use length to stack blockers. You better get hands on him early otherwise he’ll be a problem. He will constantly concern tackles with his EDGE speed. His initial quickness will be a major X-factor at the next level —- he flies to the ball. He was clocked at 22mph on the GPS in 2025 which is nuts.
#3 Miami — Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas)
The Dolphins, as with the Titans, could easily take Leonard Moore here. I just get the sense teams will find it really hard to turn down the opportunity to make a major investment in a potential stud pass-rusher, with Simmons only a shade behind Stewart for overall upside. He has a fantastic looking frame and his body looks well filled out despite being listed sub-250lbs. His production was off the charts this season before his knee injury (10 sacks in six games). He can win with power or speed but he’s equally impressive with his control and discipline manning the EDGE. He reads the game as it unfolds brilliantly, like a top-end linebacker. He uses a good straight arm to keep his frame clean to allow him to play the run. He’s willing to do the dirty work — such as ramming into pulling guards vs the run. He’s patient when reading the play and doesn’t just put his head down in attack mode. He constantly seems to understand what’s going on and what his role needs to be. Then when he does go after the quarterback, watch out. I would like to see a bit more violence at times — especially when facing tight ends. He’s been clocked at 20.2mph on the GPS. He doesn’t have that ankle-flexing unreal change of direction and can be a little bit tight. However, his motor never stops and he has the footwork to ‘ole’ blockers working inside.
#4 NY Jets (v/IND) — Leonard Moore (CB, Notre Dame)
He’s a high pick in any draft class — a more or less complete cornerback with the combination of skills to swiftly emerge as one of the NFL’s best. Now it has to be said, he’s had an indifferent season so far in 2026. He’s missed some time through injury and hasn’t had the chance to continue to make big plays. It speaks to the high expectations with Moore though that I can quibble about a few missed tackles and a lack of interceptions, yet he’s still barely targeted and is treated like a major concern for every opponent when throwing to the second level. He had seven interceptions in 2024 and 2025 with an astonishing five returned for touchdowns. He has no picks this season. At 6-2 and 197lbs with ample speed, the ability to just stick like glue in coverage, the length and competitiveness he plays with and the low-maintenance personality he displays, there’s no reason why he couldn’t quickly establish himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. This weekend he could come up against Malachi Toney, the best player in college football, in what could be a 1v1 battle for the ages.
#5 Philadelphia — Zereoue Williams (T, Utah)
Philly’s teams have typically been built through the trenches and with Lane Johnson retiring and the team increasingly looking like it will pick very early, why not begin the path to rebuild up front? Williams is a fascinating player. I turned on the tape and couldn’t believe how light he is on his feet for a player listed at 6-8 and 305lbs. He can quickly get out to defend the EDGE with lightning fast footwork. When opponents try to work back inside, his feet are so good that he can adequately recover. He’s one of the best mirror prospects in a long time at left tackle and while he’d kick out to the right for the Eagles, I think he’s worth having to see if he can make that move. He will have a shot to defend speed at the highest level in the NFL. If players want to try and run around him, good luck. His hands will not stop — he latches on quickly and when opponents try to win he keeps fighting. His hand-placement was generally very good and he never stops working for pad-level. Williams is a great wrestler in hand-to-hand combat.
#6 NY Jets — Drew Mestemaker (QB, Oklahoma State)
There’s no doubt which college quarterback has shown the best combination of translatable skills and prototypical physical tools this season. Mestemaker is well sized, has a good arm, has consistently delivered big-time layered throws over the middle. He makes the most of an excellent assortment of weapons at receiver. His running ability adds a dimension to his game where he can set off and sprint away from defenders. He has shown a degree of touch and timing on his throws and he has a pretty spiral with good mechanics. However, there are some things to note. He has barely played any opponent of note so far defensively. I would include Oregon with their collection of overrated defenders. He has thrown a high number of ‘turnover worthy plays’ this season. Take Saturday’s game against Iowa State, where he had one ‘big time throw’ and four TWP’s. Not only can he throw to three excellent wide-outs, outstanding second-year running back Caleb Hawkins is having a weekly big play where you just give him an extended hand-off and he runs away from everyone. Mestemaker threw a horrible pick with five minutes to go, never feeling the defender in backside coverage and lobbing it late across his body. He has everything required to one day be a NFL starter but this is only his second season as a starting college quarterback and his first at Oklahoma State. Returning to OkSt next year would be a good plan to get extra reps and continue to develop — but if he’s slated to be the top QB taken, will he be able to resist?
#7 Houston — Xavier Gilliam (DT, Tennessee)
He is an explosive, dynamic interior rusher. Gilliam’s frame is a ball of power not too dissimilar to that of Byron Murphy. He has a thick, compact body and can win with a low centre of gravity. At 6-2 and 305lbs I’d suggest he pretty much has the perfect body-type to play as a game-wrecking three-technique. He will side-step interior linemen then immediately get upfield with 0-60 acceleration through the gap. When he slants his rushes he can pierce through gaps with ease. He’s just so quick and slippery with an incredibly powerful base. His legs are like tree trunks and yet he has minimal bad upper-body weight — he looks like a superb athlete. He combines a hesi-move with a devastating hand-swipe and then drives to the QB. Gilliam shows incredibly powerful hands to displace and jolt opponents backwards. His straight arm can be devastating — so he’s not just quick, he’s a beast too. His first-step quickness to hit the outside shoulder is top-level. On some reps it’s like watching a pro vs a High-Schooler given how easily he gets off blocks. He’s often through gaps before blockers are even getting off the ball sometimes. His engage/disengage is so good — power, speed, hands, pad level. His ankle-flexion for a big man is unique and he twists and contorts to work around blocks. He is not just an athlete, he can anchor down and hold the point vs the run. The sky is the limit for his potential and if he can work to be more consistent, watch out. Imagine him on the Texans’ D-line. One of the most intriguing defensive tackles to enter the league in recent history.
#8 New Orleans — Chris Cole (LB, Georgia)
Very few players have boosted their stock as much as Cole this year. Nicknamed ‘the Tarantula’ for his long arms and legs, he’s more like a racehorse as he gallops around the field chasing down ball-carriers to the sideline. His size is listed at 6-3 and 235lbs and he is like lightning when he accelerates and gets on the chase. You don’t see many players with his ability to set off and stalk. Because of his speed and length Georgia have tried using him off the edge. This is an area where I would say he’s struggled. It’s nice to think he can be a multi-faceted player like Arvell Reese but Reese just looked so natural moving up to the line and would often win with freakish power and strength rather than pure quickness. With Cole, there are a lot of wasted reps where he’s too easily blocked. It might be newness to the role, or he might simply not be a good EDGE. I am not concerned about this. Just play him at linebacker, where he’s an apex predator. He has absolutely no trouble running through traffic to get to the ball. He’s forceful as a blitzer up the middle and can power past interior linemen. His speed and drive to the sideline is the best you’ll see in years. Against Arkansas he dropped into coverage with ease, taking away a throwing target. When the quarterback then set off — he sprinted to him, closing ground in a remarkable fashion. He then lit-up the QB with a thunderous hit. He can cover 1v1, carry the seam and drop immediately to eliminate throwing lanes. His interviews are also impressive — he’s a charming individual and speaks very well.
#9 Washington — Ellis Robinson IV (CB, Georgia)
With cornerbacks you can often tell whether they are top talents very early in a tape study. That is abundantly clear with Robinson, who jumps off the screen as a player with legit NFL qualities. He is nicely sized (6-0, 180lbs) but looks sturdy in his frame. His transition from backpedal to flipping hips and facing the throw is impressive. He’s very competitive at the catch point and willing to mix it up 1v1. He’s very comfortable tracing and mirroring receivers while being aware of the QB’s intentions. He will nearly always get his head back round to the quarterback. Consistently he’s just so difficult for receivers to shake off. His length seems like a plus-point without official measurements. He closes well when playing in-off coverage but has the speed to protect against double moves. He’s very willing to get stuck in as a run defender and make tackles. He can carry the deep route and make the QB second-guess throwing it downfield because of his positioning. He has recovery ability when he gets twisted and turned early in the break. His interviews are likeable and he appears to have a positive, upbeat personality. He was called ‘the best trash-talker’ on the Georgia roster by linebacker Raylen Wilson. Robinson could easily come into the league and develop into a quality starter.
#10 NY Jets (v/DAL) — Will Echoles (DT, Ole Miss)
The Jets’ third pick in the top-10 is a player who could easily go earlier. There’s always a telltale sign when a college team has a truly dynamic athlete at defensive tackle. They line them up at running back and let them score a touchdown on the goal-line. This happened for Echoles against Auburn at the weekend. Now granted, his play this year has been a little up and down at times. However, there aren’t many defensive tackles with his level of mobility at 6-3 and 310lbs. Not only that, he can combine those movement skills with pure power — barging his way into the backfield to disrupt. He will get to the outside shoulder, then just force his way through contact. He can set-up a blocker to the outside, then use an effective arm/over to shift inside. Offensive linemen will struggle to get across and cut him off on the angle. If linemen overextend he will throw them down with disdain. He’s an all-rounder who can play stout against the run and solidify your interior. For two years he’s looked like he can already play in the NFL. While he doesn’t necessarily have the twitch to be a big-time game-wrecker, you can imagine he’ll be extremely competent with a low chance of failure. Echoles possesses grown-man strength for such a young player (he only turned 20 in August) and his frame is big with thickness throughout. He’s a really good football player.
#11 Arizona — Dante Moore (QB, Oregon)
Personally I don’t think Moore’s tape justifies a first round grade. However, I also thought he was somewhat overrated a year ago and the feeling within the media (and therefore the NFL) was that he would be the first or second overall pick had he declared for the 2026 draft. Teams were clearly intrigued by his five-star profile, size and arm. He returned to Oregon this year, correctly in my opinion, to work on his craft and take steps in his development. It hasn’t worked out. His play was patchy and erratic, especially in games like the loss to Oklahoma State. Then he suffered the horrific head injury against USC that ended his season. Now he has to decide whether to return to college again to gather the experience he lost in 2026, or turn pro. I suspect he will head to the NFL. I would not take him this early. He reminds me of Josh Freeman. The arm and size is good but he’s not particularly mobile or creative. Yes he can throw downfield and there are spells when he’s given time where he looks the part. I just don’t see special qualities playing outside of structure and believe, like Freeman, he’ll flatter to deceive then fizzle out. The NFL is desperate for big, strong-armed throwers though with a pedigree. So the chances are one team will roll the dice and bring him in.
TRADE #12 Las Vegas Raiders (v/Tampa Bay) — Charlie Becker (WR, Indiana)
In this mock I have the Raiders jumping up two spots to reunite Becker with Fernando Mendoza. He is just a total pillar of consistency. He can be targeted again and again and is ‘Mr Reliable’ for Indiana. He does it so many different ways too. He’s extremely productive in contested catch situations and despite not being the biggest in terms of a thick frame, he uses his 6-4 height, excellent ball-tracking, high-point ability and safe hands to battle and scrap to make plays. He’s also capable of winning with suddenness off his release to create an early target for his quarterback. He’s extremely polished with his routes and possesses great body control and quickness. Drops are never a concern. There’s an inevitability with Becker on the field — you know they’ll go to him in key moments and he still delivers. He can also bail out bad throws — adjusting back to the ball with ease, making difficult catches look easy. He’s such a smooth, technically adept, plus athlete, clutch target. He’d be ideal for a young quarterback who needs a safety net but with a more established passer, he could be a production machine.
#13 Atlanta — Ashton Hampton (CB, Clemson)
Hampton has been a really pleasant surprise this season. Watching Clemson has often been a cause for disappointment over the last few years. Too many of their big name players are not as advertised. Hampton, instead, has elevated his game in the tape I’ve watched. He is part of a strong group of early round cornerbacks in this class. He has great size at 6-3 and around 205lbs. He sinks low into his hips off the snap like a coiled snake. He wants to get his hands on the receiver early in the route and disrupt and seems to have good length. He’s willing to ram into attempted blocks. He’s versatile and plays some safety (free, box) to go with slot and outside corner. The vast majority of his snaps are at outside corner though and he can play their full-time. He’s a decent run defender as he should be for his size. He will be at his best in press-man coverage. I’m not convinced his deep speed is going to be anything to write home about and it’s possible he could get caught by sudden, dynamic receivers at the next level. His recovery speed appears a little bit laboured too. However — I like these bigger, physical combative cornerbacks and I think he could end up having a career like former blog favourite Kamari Lassiter. This is also worth noting — I thought he did a better job than most vs Malachi Toney when Clemson played Miami.
TRADE #14 Tampa Bay (v/LVR) — Kelley Jones (CB, Mississippi State)
In an ideal world the Buccs would probably like to reinforce their pass-rush but the options remaining are not great. Therefore they pivot to a ‘best player available’ situation and that could mean tapping into the talented group of cornerbacks. Jones is absolutely jacked for a defensive back and you’d expect he’d be stiff for his height and frame. However, he’s just so fluid as a mover. His length and size will be a difference-maker in contested situations and his coverage has been on point in 2026 as his game reaches a new level. He hasn’t given up a touchdown all year despite facing Alabama, Texas, LSU, Missouri and South Carolina. As a tackler he is incredibly useful. His missed tackle rate was only 8.6% last year and it’s even lower this year (7.4%). Maybe you’d expect that for his size (6-4, 205lbs) but I wouldn’t make any assumptions there. Basically he offers all the plus points of a big, long, tall, strong defensive back yet has the fluidity and movement skills of someone who is much smaller. He looks like he has incredibly long arms and if he runs well at the combine, which I would expect, he could go a lot higher than people realise. Teams like long, fast, physical cornerbacks. He also plays with a sparky edge and provides a lot of energy.
#15 Baltimore — Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (LB, Notre Dame)
It does feel as if the Ravens have lost their way under Eric DeCosta. The botched Maxx Crosby trade wasn’t a good look. They’ve added questionable character players over the last two drafts and seem incapable of making a call on whether to commit to or trade Lamar Jackson. The trade for Cam Jurgens felt desperate and an overpay. They just seem a little bit stuck. Regardless, when I watch Viliamu-Asu, he looks like a classic AFC North defender. His 2026 season has been hampered by his recovery from a bad injury picked up at the end of last season and he’s yet to reach his best health or performance. However, make no mistake, KVA at his best is an electric prospect and one of the best in the class. He so consistently plays with low pad level, sinking his hips ready to uncoil and explode into contact. He’s very quick and can move across the line with great agility. His lateral movement is very impressive. He fires out like a cannon when he reads the play and reacts. There’s ample evidence of him blowing up pass-protecting running backs and tight ends, so you’ll have to have a plan to block him. The interesting thing is he’s shown an ability to dip and bend off the edge and he does it, frankly, better than a lot of the EDGE rushers eligible for this class. He has tape where he drives the right tackle back into the pocket playing off the edge. Unlike Chris Cole, I think he could genuinely be a threat coming up to the line in passing situations. He’s extremely competent in second-level coverage and not just a forward-attacking player. He stalks stretch plays to the sideline with quickness and discipline. He fills gaps versus the run with ease. Every snap is played like he’s enjoying himself and he’s one of the most natural linebacker prospects I’ve studied in a long time. I think teams with defensive-minded coaches, including Seattle, will really appreciate Viliamu-Asa.
#16 Cleveland (v/LAR) — Darian Mensah (QB, Miami)
I do not have Mensah graded this high at all. It’s obvious to me what he is and what he isn’t. At this stage in his career he is very efficient, competent and capable of executing at a good level in college. He’s mobile, can make accurate throws and has just enough juice in his arm to throw at every level. Personally I still think he has a pretty limited upside range. Nobody was calling him a first round pick last year at Duke. He has the great benefit of playing for Miami. Shannon Dawson the offensive coordinator has done an excellent job mixing in air-raid concepts with more old-school Mario Cristonal power running. It has set the table for both Cam Ward and Carson Beck to enjoy a level of success. Mensah has it even better than they did. By giving him Malachi Toney, so much of his game-to-game plan is simply to look where Toney is and give him a catchable football. Mensah’s polish and consistency, coupled with Toney’s brilliance, has created a force that could lead the Hurricans to a National Championship. Yet I think he’s just a very good facilitator in college and not a NFL difference maker. Look what happened against Wake Forest when Toney got hurt and only played third downs. The offense completely stalled. Yet when I’ve spoken to certain people who are connected, they have suggested a buzz around Mensah and a genuine next-level interest. I don’t think he’ll go very early — but it does seem there’s a chance he’ll go in round one, even if it’s too rich for me.
#17 Seattle — Ryan Coleman-Williams (WR, Alabama)
Three-and-a-half years ago, the NFL made a huge mistake. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury-hit final year at Ohio State took him out of public consciousness. He was never the fastest (long speed) or biggest. He fell to the 20th overall pick which, with hindsight, is ridiculous. I think something similar might be happening with Coleman-Williams at Alabama this year. When he burst onto the scene as a freshman he was very much seen as the future of college football along with Jeremiah Smith. Then the 2025 season happened. He had too many bad drops. Alabama didn’t use him as often as you’d expect. It was a disappointing season. Yet it feels like that is lingering more than it should. Before an injury took him off the field, the drops were gone in 2026. He was back to his playmaking best. I think draft media is completely sleeping on this rare, brilliant talent. He has clear twitch and change of direction skill. He uncovers superbly. He has the ability to cut back and break ankles to create with the ball in his hands. He can be used in a multitude of ways — conventional, deep, intermediate, YAC. He has shown an ability to catch the ball away from his body. He has produced some special moments in big games for Alabama. He runs the redline to maintain space to the sideline, then creates late separation squeezing the defensive back. He can adjust back to the football better than most receivers and his ball-tracking skills are great. As an athlete, he is elite. He reportedly has clocked 23.1mph on GPS and is also said to be able to jump a crazy 44 inch vertical and an 11-2 broad. He has shown a suddenness on tape that matches those numbers. He is a team captain at Alabama and a celebrated character who is already married. The Seahawks need more at receiver. Will lightning strike twice? The idea of pairing JSN with RCW is tantalising.
#18 Cleveland — Trevor Lauck (T/G, Iowa)
Lauck plays like a bouncer at a nightclub. He has the classic edge you want and expect from an Iowa lineman. His frame appears tailor made to move inside and he doesn’t seem to have great length — but let’s see how he measures. He gets into position to seal off the edge but not with the most natural, athletic movement (he’s not Williams/Seaton in that regard). I do wonder if elite NFL speed will challenge his technique. He often shoves the pure speed rush away from the arc so opponents overrun beyond the quarterback. In the NFL they’ll probably just bend and straighten, can he seal off in that scenario? Currently his languid style enables him to play very much in control. He is never susceptible to the inside counter because he doesn’t use an aggressive kick-slide. He might get beaten to the outside shoulder more often at the NFL against better rushers. He does however always stay square to the defender and retains position with subtle steps. That’s why I think he might be better suited inside. He will leave it on defenders, sometimes after the whistle too. He can just brawl inside and his power and control will enable him to open up lanes. He has shown he can hip-toss defenders out of the way. He’s nimble and athletic and could be good on the pull and reaching up to the next level. He doesn’t always have ideal engagement technique but he can still move opponents off the spot.
#19 Carolina — Kade Pieper (G/C, Iowa)
From one Iowa lineman to another. Pieper has played right guard in college and could stick there or kick inside to center. He has the ideal profile to play center — 6-3 and 300lbs, can reportedly run a 4.13 short shuttle, vertical jump 37 inches and run a 1.52 10-yard split. These are elite testing numbers and could push him into round one, unlike most center prospects. He’s very quick moving upfield to the second level and he’s a block finisher. He can extend his arms to control blocks and he’s capable of turning defenders to create lanes. He constantly resets his hands to control with good pad level. Pieper stays square and keeps defenders in front of him, rarely losing leverage. His feet keep moving forward during blocks when he’s latched on and he’s not a static blocker. He’s a tone-setting finisher. He’s brilliant on the pull, quick, decisive and accurate with his hands, and always in control. He’s one of the best pullers I’ve scouted. He’s shown an ability to competently combo-block. There are loads of examples where he drives defenders off the ball and dumps them to the turf. He’s excellent in the red-zone to help finish drives in the running game. He consistently panics defenders and has them moving backwards, clinging on for dear life. He never plays with too much aggression — I’d call him a silent assassin as a blocker. In pass-pro he drops and sets with ease and shows a strong back to anchor down. He has shown he can move, turn his body against the grain and steer defenders from an angle. My only quibble is he can over-extend sometimes and he can play a little high. If the Seahawks want to keep adding to their O-line, he could be an option for them.
#20 Dallas (v/GB) — Jordan Seaton (T, LSU)
There are two things I really like about Seaton. Firstly, he will be the aggressor and get into the frame of the EDGE, rather than waiting to play defense in his set. Secondly, he’s so quick into his drop and is a very athletic, pass-protecting left tackle with the skill to handle pro-level speed. He’s listed at 6-5 and 311lbs. In my notes I wrote that he’s the opposite of USC left tackle Elijah Paige in that his feet are very active and quick. I would like to see more consistent hand-placement to help him control blocks. His run blocking needs a lot of work too — he’s hesitant, unsure of himself and doesn’t dominate here. Yet he’s very capable of playing inside/out from the edge with his length and quicks. There’s clear evidence of him passing off rushers who dip inside and transitioning to stunting defenders. His mirror on the kick-slide is his most impressive skill. He does not possess a jarring punch or much evidence of a mean streak. Currently he is not a block-finisher and his play has not improved in that area as the season has gone along. He is not a glass-eating tackle. If he got into the right locker-room with the right coach he could be really good in a few years. He has what it takes to play pass-pro in the NFL. You have to work on his strength, power, attitude (playing with an edge) and hand placement. Pad level and sticking on blocks also needs work. But he has the talent to make it and start for a long time.
#21 New England — KJ Bolden (S, Georgia)
The safety position isn’t typically coveted this early. For that reason, it’s perfectly plausible Bolden — a good player — could last into the early second round. I thought it was noticeable when he missed a game for Georgia recently though against Auburn. He’s very capable of filling a hole running up to the LOS and he packs a punch when he can square-up a ball-carrier and deliver a hit. He’s well sized for his position at 6-0 and 190lbs. He has an athletic looking frame — lean, but stronger in the lower body. He plays mostly free safety but also lines up in the box and in the slot. As a late blitzer he covers ground very quickly and he has a sparky suddenness to his acceleration. Bolden does not miss many tackles. His range is fine at free safety running to the sideline but he’ll never be mistaken for a classic eraser. His range is superior when he lines up deep and can run straight-line to intermediate passes. His run defense overall seems like a big plus and he will create a fear-factor against crossing routes. He’s not a big-time playmaking turnover machine (four picks in three seasons at UGA) but working within a system he can be very effective. He’s an important, physical cog. His decision making is fundamentally sound and he doesn’t get into a lot of bad positions. When his replacement deputised against Auburn he ran into Ellis Robinson IV on a deep shot and it gifted a touchdown to the opponent. You can hear him speak about preparation in interviews and I get the sense he is a vital organiser on the field for the Georgia defense. The potential is there for Bolden to be an extremely competent pro.
#22 NY Giants — Kewan Lacy (RB, Ole Miss)
I think Lacy is sufficiently talented that with no persistent injuries, he could’ve easily been a top-15 pick. There is so much to like about his game. However, the injuries have been a thing all year. Even when he’s played he’s often left games for stretches. I still think there’s so much star potential here that someone could/should take him in the top-40. He is a perfect blend of a player who can hit home-runs but also get you the tough yards. He’s buttery smooth when running with the football. He can run through or around contact. When he finds a crease he can turn a good run into a great run with his acceleration. His long strides gobble up yards when he hits top speed. He hits the hole quickly with a purpose to capitalise on openings. Often he’s shot an opening long before defenders can react, then he hits the second level and he’s gone. He has a little stutter-step move before contact which often enables him to drop a shoulder and make defenders miss. When he reaches the second level the fun starts. He had 1,010 yards after contact last year — fourth most in college football. He scored 24 touchdowns and was a workhorse — playing every game. It’s such a shame the opposite has been true this year. He can make catches in the passing game and has proven he can catch inaccurate throws away from his body. Has highlighted his athleticism by hurdling defenders, jumping over them to extend and max-out runs. His frame is a little bit high-cut (long legs) but he’s still quite compact and balanced throughout his frame. There’s at least some tape evidence of him enjoying smacking around opponents in pass-pro.
#23 Cincinnati — Zabien Brown (CB, Alabama)
He’s missed recent games through injury and Brown has not quite had the year of tape that could propel him above the other cornerbacks I have in round one. He has good size at approximately 6-1 and 190lbs. His two interceptions in 2025 were both pick-sixes. This year his tackling has dropped off a bit — his missed-tackle rate is double what it was in 2024/25. Yet there’s still enough encouraging coverage tape to believe you can fix that problem. He’s always on his toes and always alert to what the quarterback is doing. He sticks in coverage very well and is on a receiver like a shadow at his best. Subtle movements with little wasted energy enable efficient coverage. He’s capable of getting a good disruptive jam in off the snap. He’s willing to come up and level someone with a hit. Brown backs himself in zone to stick when the route goes deep. He sits tight until the receiver shows his hand — he’s not backing off to give up easy cushion. He just needs to be a little bit careful not to get his feet tangled sometimes. The biggest concern is his long range speed — could a dynamo test him in a pure sprint? I would’ve been interested to see Deuce Alexander at Ole Miss test him for deep speed but he missed the game through injury. He’s trustworthy in close-quarters coverage and that’s what you’re drafting him for. He has the potential to be coached into an effective, very useful cornerback. He was also used on the blitz vs South Carolina effectively.
#24 Kansas City — Justin Bowick (WR, Oklahoma State)
The more the season has gone on, the more impressed I’ve been with Bowick. He has fantastic height (6-5) and size (209lbs) and he’s a pure sprinting force of nature. He can reach 22mph on the GPS but it’s his sudden quickness and burst off his release that is so intriguing. He can eat-up soft coverage with ease and play off it brilliantly — coming back to the quarterback or stretching the field. Defenders are persistently terrified by his long-speed, yet he has that short-area quickness to separate on a shorter-range and be a chain-mover. Then you throw his size into the mix — it enables him to win contested catches, be a red-zone threat and go up to get the football. Against Iowa State he adjusted brilliantly to an underthrown deep-ball by Drew Mestemaker and just went up and got it. He already has nine touchdowns for the season despite playing with other very talented receivers. He’s gone from Eastern Illinois to Ball State to Illinois and now Oklahoma State and finally seems to have genuinely unlocked his amazing talent. The best way to highlight what he offers? On a big play by Caleb Hawkins against Iowa State he basically blocked four players, doing the dirty work for his team.
#25 Jacksonville — Trey’Dez Green (TE, LSU)
It feels a little bit like he’s the forgotten man of the 2027 draft. He got hurt against Ole Miss, it looked bad, and he’s only recently returned. He started the year with 222 receiving yards and a touchdown in three games. The truth about Green is he has so many amazing qualities as a receiving target but in order to become a fully-functioning tight end in the NFL, he’ll need to work on his blocking. He has great size (6-7, 240lbs) and his mobility is highly impressive for his frame. He moves very freely and could easily be an X-factor weapon as a receiver. Quickness and dynamism are the name of his game. He gets into his routes quickly. Very few tight ends can race up to the second level and then cut into different routes like he does. He’s not just a seam specialist — he can change direction as well as some big receivers. Sometimes he’s uncoverable in the slot as he closes space then cuts inside. He catches nicely away from his body. As I mentioned though, he has to improve as a blocker. He is not good in the perimeter run game. His blocking on the move is fine but he can’t in-line block on tape at the moment — and for every Jimmy Graham there’s an Eric Ebron. He can’t just rely on being a receiver. He’s been timed running at 21.3mph which is pretty special for his size.
#26 Detroit — Jyaire Hill (CB, Michigan)
He’s been one of the few bright spots for Michigan and in the last couple of games I’ve watched he’s been a standout player. He’s listed at 6-2 and 190lbs. He had good reps against Charlie Becker of Indiana, sticking in his hip-pocket and playing the football (not easy vs Becker). On his one interception this season he showed excellent recovery speed after basically being fouled from a slot alignment to undercut the throw against Oklahoma. His anticipation is good playing with patience then running to the ball-carrier in zone. Missed tackles were a problem last year (23.4%) but he’s improved this season (14.6%). His backpedal and catch-up speed fits the bill. He lined up in the slot and outside for Michigan last year but has mostly stuck to playing outside in 2026. He doesn’t play with a fiery urgency off the snap sometimes and tends to be reactive. He looks more comfortable in man, back-pedalling and sticking stride for stride. He plays it safe in zone, keeping everything in front and then reacts (it’s not the worst plan). He has shown he can work through traffic running across the field, avoiding rub-routes. He has useful size and length. I think if you want someone who can reliably stick in coverage and be a decent starter he’s a plus option.
#27 Pittsburgh — Deuce Alexander (WR, Ole Miss)
I would’ve had him higher than this three weeks ago but strangely his form has dropped off a cliff recently. He’s dropping too many passes, including an absolute horror-show drop last weekend against Auburn that took a touchdown off the board. He has six drops in his last three games after having none in the previous five. Even so, the talent is through the roof with Alexander and he wins in the way modern NFL receivers have to win (sudden quickness). He is absolutely electric in his release and can threaten defensive backs in so many ways. Play off and he’s a threat to break across the middle and win easily, he can double-move you into next week, he can just flat out run by you and win any foot-race and he can drive back to the quarterback using his speed to fake-out defenders. He is so quick and has tested at 22.3mph on GPS (just remember I mentioned earlier that Ryan Coleman-Williams is +23mph and that shows how fast he is). Alexander will be a constant threat on the deep post and any vertical route and can be a big-play waiting to happen. You’ll be able to get creative with him on sweeps. If the Steelers plan to go with Drew Allar for the future, Allar’s arm along with Alexander’s speed could be a threat.
#28 Tennessee (v/CHI) — Kingston Lopa (S, California)
He’s listed at 6-5 although I’m thinking more 6-3/6-4. He’s well sized (210lbs). Yet the key quality for Lopa is not his physical profile. He’s really instinctive and has a knack for making the right read and being in the right position. He had a three-interception game against Syracuse flashing his playmaking quality. He is quick, he is not stiff for his size and has relatively loose hips. He plays everywhere — free safety, the box, slot, special teams. It’s not often you see a player with this frame with his range. He can stick in coverage when playing in the slot. You can line him up in the slot/linebacker and have him drop with ease. He can run to the sideline to cover his guy, then pivot back inside and force a broken pass. He really moves so fluently. He can run up and attack the LOS — making tackles in the box. He’s willing to meet running backs in the hole. He ran into the Syracuse left tackle on one play and dumped him to the turf. Teams will see legit big nickel/SAM/versatile safety talent here. He might get caught staring down quarterbacks in the NFL, he does latch on to try and get a read on a play. He has also shown, to his credit, an ability to bait quarterbacks himself, shaping his body in a way to mask his intentions. He has missed time with injury this season. Dylan Stewart and Kingston Lopa would be a good way to supercharge Tennessee’s defense.
#29 Denver — Jamari Johnson (TE, Oregon)
It’s a shame that Oregon’s passing game has been all over the place this season because it’s hampered our ability to get a proper read on Johnson’s fantastic ability. Against USC we saw him at his absolute best. He hurdled defenders, pulled off a miraculous one-handed grab, busted seams galore and was virtually uncoverable. He’s capable of making people miss in the open field and accelerating away from defenders — this is not typical for a tight end. He’s such a threat in the long red zone. He consistently creates separation against defensive backs and he even has YAC potential. He looks like a special athlete and even his blocking looks decent at times. He was, sadly, cited for speeding on the same night that team-mate Evan Stewart’s DUII. It’s an incident that all teams will want to check out and it’s a shame because both players are very talented. If he passes all of the background checks and has a strong combine, there’s a lot of physical ability and natural talent to work with here.
#30 Minnesota — LaNorris Sellers (QB, South Carolina)
It’s pretty clear that Minnesota are back in the quarterback market. They might be willing to go and get a Mac Jones to enable Kevin O’Connell’s system to function at a base, consistent level. If not, it brings another draft pick into play. Sellers has had another poor season overall, following on from a disappointing 2025 campaign where he toiled behind a sub-standard offensive line. Overall he’s thrown just nine ‘big time throws’ compared to 13 ‘turnover worthy plays’. However, suddenly South Carolina are on a bit of a winning streak. Sellers is still making the occasional awful throw, including a terrible pick-six against Oklahoma last weekend, but he’s also dragging his team back to relevancy with some outstanding physical moments. He’s scored 15 touchdowns and thrown just three picks in his last four games. We’d all assumed he’d be transferring at the end of the season (Miami anyone?) and trying to rebuild his stock. If he continues at this rate, though, he might build enough momentum to head for the NFL in 2027. His arm strength is unmatched in college football. He threw a pass 70 yards recently with little actual effort — that’s how strong his arm is. He delivered one stunning touchdown throw at the weekend with amazing velocity and touch. He can be a major playmaker as a runner both to score touchdowns, move the chains and create. It’s very evident that on a technical level he’s not where he needs to be as a passer. Yet the physical tools will intrigue teams. Don’t be surprised if he gets back into the round one mix and landing with an accomplished offensive guru will help. As with Lamar Jackson, Sellers could end up going later and then excelling. I will stress though, as good as some of this sounds, the first half of Sellers’ season was absolutely terrible.
#31 San Francisco — KJ Duff (WR, Rutgers)
Mike Evans won’t play forever so why not go and add another big target who could be his eventual replacement? Duff is 6-6 and 225lbs. He wins a ton of contested catches and will be a menace in the red zone if nothing else. He recently picked up an injury that’ll need to be monitored. On a bad Rutgers team he has provided light with four +100 yard receiving games and nine touchdowns. He has strong hands and he’s very competitive in 1v1 battles. He will physically impose himself on smaller cornerbacks. As with all bigger receivers, his long speed and testing numbers are critical to determine his range. Could he go higher? If he runs well, yes. You do see him moving fluidly and his change of direction is really good for his size. He’s not sudden but was never going to be. I still thought his mobility was surprisingly good. He shows sharp, decisive movements but lacks a second gear to really burn past cornerbacks on vertical routes. Is he a nice complementary piece — a big target and red zone threat — but not much more? There is still value in that because he scores touchdowns. He catches away from his body, plucking the ball out of the air. He makes good adjustments to catch off-target throws. His ball tracking can be really good. Unsurprisingly he’s had to deal with an inaccurate QB at Rutgers in 2026. You don’t need to hit him in the numbers — he’ll reach up or behind to make catches. He looks like he has big hands that suck the ball in. He shows good body control to get his feet down in bounds by the sideline. There’s no YAC value to be had here but you’re not drafting him for that.
#32 Buffalo — Reed Harris (WR, Arizona State)
This is a strong looking receiver class and the ballooning cost of paying a wide out on the market could force teams to tap into the group. Harris has a big frame (6-5, 220lbs) but he’s still able to create separation. He shows great body control and ball tracking. He can read the flight of the ball then contort to make difficult catches. He can catch away from his body. He had zero drops in 2025 and only one to his name this year. He had a disappointing outing last time out against BYU and it’ll be interesting to see how he bounces back. He doesn’t have sudden quickness off the snap which could temper his stock. He doesn’t challenge defenders with immediate burst or vertical speed. He’s a build-up speed runner downfield. He’s not likely to be a YAC threat. You can throw it to him in his general direction and he will go up and make a play. He’s said to be capable of running a sub-4.5 forty but he looks in the 4.5 range to me. Evidence of an ability to make acrobatic catches by the sideline. He is working with Hines Ward at Arizona State. Don’t think he’s helped by Arizona State’s quarterback recklessly throwing it to him at times in 2026. They trust him too much sometimes.
