Daniels' Draft Top 5's: Offense

The NFL Draft is around the corner and it is time to finalise my prospect rankings. We start on offense and each group will get a small blurb to give you an understanding of my thinking. I am sure there will be plenty you disagree on, but that’s the beauty of the draft! Enjoy and be sure to click on the players’ names for an in-depth scouting report from Simon Carroll and the rest of the NFL Draft team.

Quarterback

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  1. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
  2. Malik Willis, Liberty
  3. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
  4. Carson Strong, Nevada
  5. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Pickett’s plug and play ability gives him the edge here. He is the most pro-ready and has less ‘boom or bust’ potential than Willis. The biggest shocker is Desmond Ridder being absent; despite his meteoric rise his inconsistent accuracy is something I cannot get past.

Running Back

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  1. Breece Hall, Iowa State
  2. James Cook, Georgia
  3. Brian Robinson Jr, Alabama
  4. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
  5. Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma

Breece Hall is a complete back and has the lateral agility to break open defenses. I see Kenneth Walker more straight-line, able to break free if the holes are created. That knocks him back. James Cook is my favourite back and I believe he can be more than just a third down back. Brooks doesn’t get much love but I can see his physical style getting him an opportunity in the NFL.

Wide Receiver

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  1. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
  2. Jameson Williams, Alabama
  3. Chris Olave, Ohio State
  4. Treylon Burks, Arkansas
  5. George Pickens, Georgia

The talking point will obviously be the omission of Drake London. His big frame and lack of testing throw up some major questions for me. I worry he will be too predictable at the next level and don’t see him as the YAC threat some do. Wilson and Williams are far above the others for me and should be top 10 picks in my opinion.

Tight End

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  1. Greg Dulcich, UCLA
  2. Trey McBride, Colorado State
  3. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
  4. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
  5. Jelani Woods, Virginia

Dulcich’s athleticism is exciting and I see him as a true deep threat with the best receiving ability of the group. Ruckert, given the chance, could be the most complete prospect but his film is lacking production as a pass catcher. Isaiah Likely surprised me; he will be a good weapon as well as a willing blocker at the next level.

Offensive Tackle

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  1. Evan Neal, Alabama
  2. Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
  3. Charles Cross, Missisippi State
  4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
  5. Braxton Jones, Southern Utah

I initially felt Evan Neal was too raw but considering he has moved position every year at Alabama it’s understandable. The size and potential make him an easy top 5 prospect. The gap between Cross and Penning is large, both Penning and Bernhard Raimann looked massively underpowered at the Senior Bowl. That allowed Braxton Jones to sneak in ahead of Tyler Smith, who I feel gave up his chest too easily. Jones is a good mover for his size and has solid enough anchor.

Interior Offensive Line

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  1. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
  2. Zion Johnson, Boston College
  3. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
  4. Sean Rhyan, UCLA
  5. Luke Fortner, Kentucky

The top two in this group should be solid starters from Day 1 in the NFL and I would have no problem selecting either in the top 25 picks. Both Linderbaum and Rhyan are knocked due to arm length but arguably are the two most impressive guys on tape. Luke Fortner showed great play strength and anchor at the Senior Bowl and is my favourite iOL in the draft.

Mock Draft

Rory-Joe Daniels

Cfb contributor

formerly writing for the inside zone, rory will be breaking down college tape and keeping you up-to-date with all things CFB for the touchdown. an avid bengals fan, you can also find some of rory’s work at stripehype.com

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