The NFL Draft is right around the corner as Thursday Night will kick off the festivities with 32 players hearing their names called as first round picks. While the draft is 7 rounds, the first round brings a different level of excitement whether its the promise of a new franchise quarterback, the missing link for a defense, or an exciting weapon that will take your offense to the next level.
Every year, analysts try to project the first round grading each player and releasing NFL Mock Drafts but, the draft hardly ever follows the trends. This season makes that the case more than ever in what many feel is a weaker draft class, especially at the quarterback position. Ahead of Thursday Night, a few draft prospects could sneak their way into the first round of the draft despite being seen as Early Day Two selections.
NFL teams looking to draft a quarterback in the second round often trade back into the first round to get the 5th year option that a first-round rookie contract comes with. That factor will be massive for Alabama Quarterback Jalen Milroe, who's a likely 2nd round player, but he'll have a ton of interest, and a team could move back into the first round for Milroe.
In a weaker quarterback draft class, Jalen Milroe has an outside chance to hear his name called much earlier than everyone will expect. In reality, a team like the New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, or someone else will end up trading back into the first round for Jalen Milroe.
Best Fit: New York Giants
The Philadelphia Eagles have started to shop tight end Dallas Goedert in the weeks leading up to the draft. This becomes important as Philadelphia trading a key piece of their offense would create a need for the team. Given that Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are projected to be drafted early on, Mason Taylor could be the biggest benefactor of a Goedert trade as the presumed TE3 in this draft class. Taylor could be in play for several teams late in the first round but, a trade in Philadelphia may be his best chance at being a first round pick.
Best Fit: Philadelphia Eagles
As is the case at several positions in this draft class, there's a clear top pair of cornerbacks but, after that it's truly a toss up. For teams looking to draft a press man cornerback, Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas could be the third ranked corner in this class putting him in play in the end of the first round. Thomas is a complete prospect with the length and size of a top cornerback with an excellent jam and the ability to stick with receivers. Thomas can jump into the NFL right away and play man coverage for a team and will be in play for several teams down the stretch of the first round.
Best Fit: Buffalo Bills
This draft class isn't one of the strongest classes for wide receivers which always makes it easy for one prospect with a ton of upside to go earlier than expected. In this class, Jayden Higgins may have the best chance to make a massive leap compared to his presumed range based on potential and traits.
At 6 foot 4, Higgins is a massive threat on the outside but, he has the speed to go with it running a 4.47 forty at the combine. Higgins is a smooth route runner with great releases and a team seeking a big body on the outside could snatch Higgins up at the end of the first round.
Best Fit: Los Angeles Chargers
The running back position is one of the most interesting to follow in this draft class as Ashton Jeanty may go in the top 10 but, everything after that is truly up in the air for the rest of the prospects. For TreVeyon Henderson, being a first round pick may come down to how early Omarion Hampton hears his name called.
TreVeyon Henderson is a compact runner at 5 foot 10 with the burst to get to the second level of the defense in a hurry. Henderson has proven all around ability paired with home run speed which makes his floor early Day 2 but, he could sneak his way into the first round if the run on running backs starts early.