Day Three Dream Team: Offense
By Simon Carroll
You build a team through the draft, or so the old adage tells us. And those that buy into this mantra will be the first to tell you that unearthing value in the mid to late rounds is the way to win championships. From Tom Brady to Richard Sherman, Jahri Evans to Adalius Thomas – day three of the draft is littered throughout history with star players who have helped their teams to Super Bowls.
With that in mind, I’ve attempted to build a ‘dream team’ for the upcoming day three of the NFL Draft, of prospects who are still on the board in rounds 4-7. This exercise will be split into two sections, with this first article focusing on offense:
QB: Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan
Yeah, Sam Howell is still on the board. But did you open this article to read about a quarterback you already were familiar with? I’d argue that Kaleb Eleby is the darkest of horses in this QB class, who led the Western Michigan football program to new heights during his time in Kalamazoo. He demonstrates patience, anticipation and accuracy in the pocket, and has the touch and arm strength to make all the throws.
Read Simon Carroll’s interview with Kaleb Eleby here:
RB: Tyler Badie, Missouri
There are plenty of running backs still on the board to choose from, but I opted for Badie, the Missouri ball carrier who racked up the yards in the competitive SEC. Badie is perfect for the zone blocking scheme this dream team intends to run, showing patience behind the line of scrimmage and burst to fire through the hole. Underused as a receiver, Badie flashes soft hands and sneaky athleticism as a pass catcher too.
WR1: Corey Sutton, Appalachian State
Props to my friend Oliver Hodgkinson for leading me to the tape of Corey Sutton, the 6’3″, 205lb possession receiver from App State that catches literally everything thrown his way. He has the size and physicality at the catch point to line up outside the numbers and offer Kaleb Eleby an effective short and intermediary target. Ultra-productive, Sutton knows how to move the chains.
WR2: Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech
To complement the possession receiver, we look for a deep threat with size and speed on the opposite side of the field. Step forward Erik Ezukanma, who never quite put it all together at TTU, but when he flashed he was impossible to stop. Routinely getting behind cornerbacks and creating separation, Ezukanma also brings a significnt redzone threat as a nasty jump ball specialist in the corner of the endzone.
WR3: Khalil Shakir, Boise State
There was absolutely no way Khalil Shakir wasn’t going to make this team; a true playmaker that projects favourably to the slot at the next level, Shakir weans out separation in the tightest of situations, and is insanely competitive at the catch point. His tape is littered with game changing plays on the blue Boise turf, and he can stress defenses both laterally and vertically down the seam as the y-receiver in this offense.
TE: Gerrit Prince, UAB
I’m literally furious about how little recognition Gerrit Prince has received throughout this draft process. Talk about growth – Prince exploded his final year in Birmingham, going for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s still a little raw and needs to improve as a run blocker, but the upside for Prince is off the charts.
LT: Max Mitchell, Louisiana
If Max Mitchell reahes his potential, he can be a pro bowl left tackle in the NFL. Quick and agile, he’s rarely beaten by speed around the edge, and has all the movement needed to block on the move in this outside zone run scheme this dream team utilises. If he can add a little more sand in his pants he’ll be a mainstay in the league for the next decade.
LG: Spencer Burford, UTSA
Spencer Burford played left tackle for The Roadrunners and has the length for the outside, but his play style looks much more suited to working in close quarters, and he’ll likely make the move inside at the next level. Quick-footed, he fits in nicely on this drem team o-line that puts a premium on movement skills.
C: Alec Lindstrom, Boston College
A team leader, locker room galvaniser and insane competitor, Alec Lindstrom overcomes the measurables with perfect technique and beating his opponent to landmarks. He raises his level to the situation, and as a pass protector is quick into his sets and resets his hands quickly to maintain leverage. Using an old soccer adage, Lindstrom is ‘the first name on the teamsheet’.
Read Simon Carroll’s interview with Alec Lindstrom here:
RG: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Anybody who knows me knows I love Kentucky offensive linemen. They’re big, nasty and excellently coached – the perfect blend for NFL trenchwarfare. Kinnard played tackle in Lexington but surely kicks inside at the next level, where his urgency and aggression will be more accentuated in a phone booth environment. Kinnard loves to mentally dominate opponents.
RT: Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky
Did I mention I like Wildcat linemen? Dare Rosenthal lost some weight for the combine which was unnecessary, because even at 341lbs this guy could MOVE. Much like Kinnard, Rosenthal plays with a chip on his shoulder and takes great delight in moving opponents somewhere they do not wish to be. The dream team will get that weight back on him, and have him neutralising pass rushers on the right side of this line.
Simon Carroll
CFB/NFL DRAFT EDITOR
previously the founder of nfl draft uk, simon has been covering college football and the nfl draft since 2009. based in manchester, simon is also co-creator & weekly guest of the collapsing pocket podcast.