My apologies, between my computer dying, family issues and work being insane I haven't produced the promised pre-NFL draft information. So here is a condensed version for your viewing pleasure and you try to build some hope in your teams future. What Teams Need:Everyone is looking for something in the draft and while some teams are more complete, the future of the team is always at stake. Let's take a look at what teams are looking for. Who is Available?Talent ebbs and flows at different positions from draft to draft. Some years it is a strong offensive line class, other's it is cornerbacks. Quarterbacks are always a hot topic so even if they are garbage, they are still going early. This year is more of a crap shoot do to the wide variance in playing experience last year. Deepest Positions: - Cornerback (15 draft prospects in the top 100) - Wide Receiver (13 draft prospects in the top 100) - Offensive Tackle (13 draft prospects in the top 100) - Defensive End / Edge (13 draft prospects in the top 100) - Quarterback (7 draft prospects in the top 100) Quarterback1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson. Lawrence has long been locked in as the projected No. 1 pick in this draft. He knocked off Alabama in the national championship game his freshman year before reaching the championship game again as a sophomore and the College Football Playoff a third time as a junior. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds and with all the physical tools a team craves in a quarterback, Lawrence will be a game-changer for the Jaguars. 2. Zach Wilson, BYU. Wilson saw a meteoric rise up draft boards thanks to an eye-opening 2020 season and pro day. He completed 73.5 percent of his passes while tossing 33 touchdown passes to just three interceptions, leading BYU to an 11-1 record and blowout Boca Raton Bowl win over Central Florida. He's a big play waiting to happen and can also take care of the football. Wilson enters as the likely choice for the Jets at No. 2 in the draft. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The next three could go in any order, but they will all be drafted in the first round. 3. Justin Fields, Ohio State. Fields is another quarterback likely to be selected in the first handful of picks. He was sensational back in 2019, throwing 41 touchdown passes to just three interceptions while rushing for 10 additional scores. The Buckeyes only played five regular-season games in 2020, but he led the team to a Big Ten title and a CFP semifinal win over Lawrence's Clemson squad before falling to Alabama in the championship game. Fields has faced criticism pertaining to his work ethic from NFL analysts in the month leading up to the draft, leading to a larger conversation about quarterback evaluation and the overall draft process. He has garnered support, as well, in the wake of those criticisms and he could very well be the third player -- and quarterback -- taken in this draft. 4. Trey Lance, North Dakota State. Lance might be the biggest question mark of this quarterback class. Scouts will only have one game of film to look at from 2020, but it's impossible to ignore what he did in 2019: 28 touchdowns, zero interceptions and an undefeated record en route to an FCS title. He comes from the same school as Carson Wentz but is not expected to go quite as high as the new Indianapolis Colt, who went No. 2 overall in 2016. Despite the risk, there will almost certainly be a team willing to take a gamble on Lance early in the first round. 5. Mac Jones, Alabama. Jones put together one of the most efficient seasons in college football history last year and has drawn comparisons to Tom Brady, but that hasn't exempted him from skepticism. Jones compiled 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions throwing to an exceptional group of pass catchers with the Crimson Tide on the way to an undefeated season and national title. There are questions about how Jones' ability compares to his statistics, but he is still slated to be taken off the board in the early-to-mid first round and is in play to go to the 49ers at No. 3. ---------------------------------------------------------- I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the next group go as early as the late second, most will be between the 3rd and 5th rounds. 6. Kyle Trask, Florida. Trask will likely be one of the first quarterbacks selected after the first round in 2021. He posted 4,283 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Gators last season. He eclipsed 400 yards in five games, including a narrow 52-46 loss to Jones and Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. He may lack the mobility of other prospects in this class, but his passing from the pocket will still make him an early-round pick. 7. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M. Mond had an inconsistent 2020 season despite the Aggies' 9-1 overall record. He threw for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns against both Alabama and Florida early in the year, but he also had a 11-for-34 passing day against LSU in November. Without eye-popping stats, Mond could fall to the third round or beyond. 8. Jamie Newman, Wake Forest/GeorgiaNewman opted out of Georgia’s 2020 season in order to prepare for the draft, so teams will have to rely on old game tape to get a gauge on the former Demon Deacon. He used his legs in college, rushing for six scores in the 2019 season. Accuracy was an issue, though, as he completed less than 50 percent of his passes in four of his final five games during his junior season. He will likely get taken late in the third day of the draft. 9. Sam Ehlinger, Texas. Ehlinger spent three seasons as the Longhorns' full-time starting quarterback, scoring with his arm and legs along the way. He rushed for 16 touchdowns in 2018 and threw 32 passing touchdowns in 2019 before settling in at 26 passing TDs and eight rushing TDs in 2020. Ehlinger will need to maximize his mobility to make it in the NFL. 10. Davis Mills, Stanford. Mills missed the start of Stanford's season due to a positive COVID-19 test, but he was productive over the final five games for the Cardinal as he completed 66.2 percent of his passes on the way to a 4-1 record. He was able to raise his stock at his pro day, but he is still projected to fall into the late rounds. Wide Recievers1Ja'Marr Chase LSU 2DeVonta SmithAlabama 3Jaylen Waddle Alabama 4Rondale Moore Purdue 5Rashod Bateman Minnesota 6Kadarius Toney Florida 7Terrace Marshall Jr. LSU 8Sage Surratt Wake Forest 9Amon-Ra St. Brown USC 10Dyami Brown North Carolina Running Back1Travis Etienne Clemson 2Najee Harris Alabama 3Javonte Williams North Carolina 4Kenneth Gainwell Memphis 5Chuba Hubbard Oklahoma State 6Michael Carter North Carolina 7Pooka Williams Jr. Kansas 8Khalil Herbert Virginia Tech 9Jermar Jefferson Oregon State 10Rhamondre Stevenson Oklahoma Tight End
Offensive LineCenter:
NextI'll put out the one for defense and some other notes over the next couple of days.
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