The rumors were correct! Jamin Davis’s meteoric rise up the draft boards culminated in him being selected as the WFT’s 19^th overall pick. I’ll be honest, I was frustrated at first since both Christian Darrisaw and JOK were available when he was picked. However, after giving it some thought, we needed a linebacker badly so this is a fine pick. Here is a quick summary of our newest linebacker:

PROS: Davis is the prototypical size for a linebacker. He stands 6’3” tall and weighs 232lbs, the exact same size as All-Pro Fred Wagner (6’3” 236) and 2020s leading tackler Zach Cunningham (6’3” 238lbs and was a Skins Skinny 2017 draft gem as well). He’s an explosive, sideline-to-sideline linebacker and proved that at him pro day with a 4.38 40, 42” vertical, and 11” broad jump. He has a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.94 which is 15^th out of 2155 draft eligible players from 1987 to 2021 (see below).

He finished with 102 tackles last year against an SEC schedule along with 3 interceptions and 1.5 sacks. He’s solid in coverage and was one of the only linebackers to give Kyle Pitts a tough time. Further, he has no injuries to note and played almost every down for the Wildcats.

CONS: The biggest concern is his block shedding and run stuffing. As I wrote before, he has multiple instances where he gets blocked clean out of run plays that are headed his direction and tries to arm tackle RBs a little too much for my liking. Also, he’s a one-year wonder. Granted it was a heck of a year but hopefully he can build upon it. His speed doesn’t always show up on film but there are flashes. Hopefully he can be more consistently explosive in the NFL.

Summary: Rivera claimed he was their #1 defensive player on their board so if he’s excited about it, then I’ll be excited about it. Davis’s speed at linebacker will be a welcomed addition to this young defense. I imagine he won’t have to take on blockers too often with this elite defensive front in front of him and having two old Linebackers as his head coach and defensive coordinator, they will get the most out of him. I see Davis playing more of weak side linebacker but if he can cover TE’s and slot receivers like he did at Kentucky, he should be an every-down player for us. I’m excited to see him in action!

GRADE: B

It’s NFL Draft-eve and boy have the rumors started flying. There is speculation that the 49ers to have narrowed their QB search down to two QBs: Mac Jones and Trey Lance. HC Kyle Shanahan wants Mac Jones but the ownership wants Trey Lance. Oddly, both seem to be leaving out one important name, Justin Fields… Further, Shanahan is claiming Jimmy G is their starter week 1, but there are multiple reports he will be traded before the draft tomorrow. It has been reported the Falcons are willing to trade down from pick #4. However, they are also apparently enamored with Kyle Pitts. Just this morning, the Panthers traded QB Teddy Bridgewater to Denver for a 6th round pick thus fully putting them in the market for one of these young QBs. There are report the QB-starved Patriots, Colts and Bears have been making calls to move into the top 10 but are waiting to see how things progress on draft night. Heck, even the WFT is rumored to have made multiple calls to move up into the top 10 but not for a QB, however. This is truly one of the first years where I cannot tell a truth from a bluff. However, with all these rumors swirling and the draft coming up tomorrow, here is my last mock draft of the year.

Notes: The top two picks seem locked up with Lawrence and Wilson going 1 and 2. The draft truly starts at pick three where the Niners select the only player they didn’t mention to the media – Justin Fields.

-The Falcons could pick their QB of the future at #4 but after the Panthers see the Niners pass on their guy Mac Jones, they trade up (possibly giving up next years 1st) to take him before he slips any further.

-Things settle down as the Bengals happily take the best OT in the draft

-The Dolphins have their pick of the all the playmakers in the draft and take possibly the scariest one of them all with WR Jamar Chase.

-The Lions shake things up and go with Trey Lance at #7. Lance will need a year or two to develop after not throwing may passes in College. Luckily. he can sit behind Goff for a year as the Lions rebuild.

-The Falcons sprint to the podium to select Pitts (who was likely their pick at #4).

-The Broncos solidify their OT need with Slater at 10 who should help whomever wins that QB position in Denver. Here are the next 8 picks:

Notes: After an offense-heavy first nine picks, the Cowboys get their pick of all the defensive players in the draft and take Jaycee Horn, Pitts’ arch-nemesis in the SEC.

-The Giants need offensive lineman and edge rushers, but selecting the Heisman Trophy winner from a year ago gives that offense so much more firepower.

-The Eagles could also use a OT here, but Waddle has been linked to them from the get go. Plus, having the chance to select him up even after trading back with the Fins is a big win.

-The Chargers need a tackle and get a good one with VT’s Darrisaw.

-The Vikings need help on the line at each side of the ball, so selecting the best defensive lineman in the class makes plenty of sense at #14.

-The Patriots select Patrick Surtain who is arguably the best defender in the draft at #15 after failing to move up into the top 10 for a QB.

-The Cardinals selection at 16 is a tough one. By adding JJ Watt to a pass rush with Chandler Jones, they could use a young CB to replace Patrick Peterson. They may be frustrated they just missed out on Surtain but Farley has the same ceiling if not more.

-Jon Gruden and Raiders are another mystery but Gruden loves his grinders and the mean, nasty Jenkins fits that description. Here are the next 8 picks:

Notes: Could the Fins go Parsons here at #18? Possibly, but they’ve been linked to EDGE rusher as well. Paye grades out as the best in the class but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jaelan Philips here as well.

-Micah Parsons is likely the player that Rivera and Mayhew are calling teams to trade up for. I could see them moving all the way up to #9 with the Broncos to select him. However, there is a possibility he slides all the way to #19, especially if 5 QBs are selected in the top 10 picks and the Raiders decide to offensive line. Micah Parsons would be a slam dunk for this young defense and could be a star in no time under Rivera’s supervision.

-The Bears will be another team attempting to move up in the draft for a QB but once four go in the first four picks, they will be forced to sit pat. AVT has been rumored to almost every team in the draft at this point and the Bears could use line help. Hopefully he’ll be a tackle but if he’s forced to play guard, he should be a fine pick.

-The Colts need WR help with the departure of TY. Bateman is a freak athlete who should fit well in this vertical offense.

-The Titans had to cut ties with the OT draft selection from a year ago. This year, they go for a more sure-thing with Radunz, the player of the week at the Senior Bowl.

-The Jets new HC Salah is a defensive mastermind so taking potentially the best EDGE rusher in the class is a no brainer.

-The Steelers crappy offensive line was exposed at the end of the year. They’ll happily take the LT for the National Champion Crimson Tide a season ago.

-The Jaguars have their QB of the future and need to protect him. However, Moehrig is too much value to pass up and should be a tone setter for their defense. Here are the last 6 picks:

Notes: The Browns look to add to their defense with last years Butkus Award Winner in JOK.

-The Ravens scary offense adds another weapon with Toney. Look out AFC.

-The Saints add big ILB Zaven Collins to sure up a need at LB. Their defense doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and now with Brees retired, it should.

-The Packers streak of not drafting a offensive skill player ended last year when they traded up for Jordan Love (lol). I imagine they finally draft a WR in the 1st round and Terrance Marshall combination of size and speed should be a welcomed addition.

-The Bills could use a CB to anchor the side opposite of Tre-Davious White and Newsome was a heck of player for Northwestern.

-The Ravens traded Orlando Brown for this pick so it’s only fitting that they take his replacement in big Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame.

-The Super Bowl Champs could go a number of different ways here, but there are rumors that Arians is fascinated with Jamin Davis. Davis gets a great opportunity to grow alongside of Devin White and Levonte David.

In order to be a contender in the NFL, your team must not only select a stud in the 1^st round, but you must find valuable starters in the mid to late rounds in the NFL draft. Over the last 5 years, the WFT has hit on a few such as Preston Smith 2^nd round 2015, Jamison Crowder 4^th round 2015, Kendall Fuller 3^rd round 2016, Matt Ioannidis 5^th round 2016, Tim Settle 5^th round 2018, Terry McLaurin 3^rd round 2019, Cole Holcomb 5^th round 2019, Antonio Gibson 3^rd round 2020, and Kamren Curl 7^th 2020. However, their 2^nd rounders have turned up empty (Su’a Cravens 2016, Ryan Anderson 2017, Derrius Guice 2018). There are certainly reasons to be optimistic that these next five years will be different but as I wrote before, Martin Mayhew has had his fair share of 2^nd and 3^rd round whiffs. Here are some names that the WFT should be considering with their day 2 and day 3 picks.

2nd Round (WFT picks #51):

Wyatt Davis, OG, OSU (2^nd-3^rd Round): The grandson of Hall of Famer Willie Davis is widely considered to be the best interior offensive lineman in this class. However, he was injured his knee halfway through the National Championship game against Alabama and it didn’t help his draft stock when he skipped his pro day. Hopefully that means this beast could fall to us in the 2^nd round. Davis dominated all three years as a starter at Ohio State (just turn on the semi final game against Clemson) and would be the perfect final piece to our offensive line at LG and be a potential replacement to Scherff if he leaves at the end of the year.

Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State (1-2^nd Round): Radunz was a man among boys in the FCS, helping the Bison to a perfect season in 2019 and garnering All-American honors his junior year. His senior year was canceled outside of one game against Central Arkansas. Where Lance struggled, Radunz looked great, dominating the line of scrimmage and taking care of business on the edge. Still, Radunz was flying under the radar of the national media until he went to the Senior Bowl and was named the “Overall Practice Player-of-the-Week”, a prize that Justin Herbert won last year. Radunz is a little smaller (6’4” 301lbs) then his peers in the class which may limit his ceiling but if his tape translates to the NFL, he should be a starter for a long time.

Nick Bolton, ILB, Missouri (1^st-3^rd Round): Bolton is one of the hardest hitting ILB’s in the draft and is one of the true 4-3 MLB’s as well. The true junior started games as a freshman and led the SEC with 100 tackles as sophomore and finished with 95 in this COVID-shortened 2020 season. He was widely considered to be a first round selection until he had a lackluster pro day (4.60 40, 32” vertical, 7.40 3-cone). Further, he only stands 6’0” but weighs a stout 232lbs. Yet when put on the film and you’ll see exactly why he was thought to be a 1^st round pick at the end of the season. He is a force against the run and has some of the hardest hits in the class. He’s also a sure tackler, wrapping up well and driving the ball carriers back into the turf. He plays downhill and is always around the ball. One concern is he doesn’t like taking on blockers head on. He elects to juke around them more often than not which may get him into trouble in the NFL. He’s not awful in pass coverage but that will certainly be a struggle for him against bigger tight ends and quicker slot receivers. The biggest knock-on Bolton is his size and athleticism; will he be able to have the same success against big NFL lineman/ TEs/ Slots?  Many scouts see him as a 1^st/ 2^nd down MLB and will have to come out on obvious passing downs. I disagree. I feel Bolton could be the tone setter a young defense like the WFT needs. Given the fact that he’s shined against SEC offenses during his time at Mizzou, I feel he could be the perfect pick in 2^nd round, if he’s available.

Jamin Davis, ILB, Kentucky (1^st-3^rd Round): Davis is somewhat opposite of Bolton. He exploded onto the draft scene after an impressive pro day where he ran a 4.37 40 and had a 42” vert all while weighing in at 234lb and standing 6’3”. I’ll say he definitely doesn’t look as fast on the film, at least consistently. Davis is not as sure of a tackler as Bolton either, and has a tendency to get blocked clean out of plays. He’ll need to work on his block shedding in the NFL but you can see flashes of why scouts are excited about him. Davis played some as a true freshman and sophomore but after starting every game his junior year, he finished with 102 tackles and 3 interceptions this past season, getting better and better as the season went along. He finished his NCAA career with 13 tackles and a game-winning interception against NC St in the Gator Bowl. The true junior still has a lot of room to grow but if he falls to #51 (and we don’t take an ILB in the 1^st round) this would be a nice high-upside pick for Rivera and Del Rio (two ex-linebackers) to groom into a star. There are even rumors he could be the pick at #19…

Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia (2-3^rd Round): Eric Stokes is the living embodiment of the phrase “you can’t teach speed”. Stokes is fast on the film, but after running a 4.25 40 at his pro day, he’s easily the fastest player in this draft class. Stokes finished 2020 as a 2^nd team All-SEC with 4 Ints (returning two for scores). He doesn’t shy away from tackling either. Stokes has straight line speed but doesn’t appear to have the quick hips that some of his peers have. However, if the WFT can harness that speed, whether out wide or on special teams, he would be a solid pick at #51.

3^rd Round (WFT picks #74 and #82):

Jabril Cox, OLB, LSU (2-3^rd Round): Cox was another 2019 FCS National Champion with the NDSU Bison but transferred before the 2020 season so he could play a full season and help his draft stock. He started right away for LSU Tigers and had a decent year despite the Tigers forgettable year, finishing with 58 tackles and 3 interceptions. Cox is widely considered to be the best coverage linebacker in the class and that is apparent on film. He’s also very disciplined and technically sound. According to PFF, Cox allowed zero touchdowns and recorded zero penalties across 352 coverage snaps all while intercepting three passes. Cox stands 6’2” and weighs 231lbs at his pro day where he ran a 4.56 40, 34” vert and a 10’3” broad jump. Cox would fill the need as a weak side linebacker for the WFT on day one and should have much more success in the NFL than he did at LSU.

Stone Forsythe, OT, Florida (3-4^th Round): Stone Forsythe, son of former NFL offensive lineman Ray Forsythe, is a large human being, standing 6’8” tall and weighing 307lbs at his pro day.  Stone has some of the longest arms in the class which help him tremendously in pass protection. Forsythe was so good this last year, it’s hard to find a real glaring weakness in his game. He’s similar to Darrisaw where he doesn’t show the kind of nastiness and anger on film that some of the other tackles in this class show. Florida passed the ball a majority of the time so you really only got to see him in pass pro making his run blocking a bit of a question mark. However, give this guy a few years with NFL coaching and training staff, he could absolutely be a starter and a good one at that.

Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas (3-5^th Round): Jaelon Darden is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft. The North Texas senior was a stud this year, finishing 2^nd in the NCAA with 19 TDs (behind Devonta Smith) and averaged 132.2 yards per game. Darden made defenders look ridiculous on film, using his top-notch agility to make defenders fall over or run into one another. Darden will be a slot receiver/ kick returner in the NFL and if he can make defenders miss half as much as they did in 2020, he could easily be a star.

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse (3-4^th Round): The WFT hit a home run with the selection of Kamren Curl in the 7^th round of last year’s draft and with reports of Landon Collins moving to linebacker, the WFT needs a Free Safety. Cisco may not be the prototypical FS we are looking for but wow does he have a nose for the football. He finished his collegiate career with 13 interceptions in basically two years (his 2020 season ended due to injury after 2 games) including 14 passes defended as well as forcing two fumbles. His film is exciting as well. Besides forcing a ton of turnovers, Cisco goes all out when tackling and he has a knack of timing up his big hits perfectly. The reason he’s falling to the 3^rd or 4^th round?? Cisco tore his ACL this past season. The WFT cannot afford another ‘Bryce Love’ with 3^rd round pick (or any pick for that matter). Also, his all-or-nothing means he doesn’t wrap up as well as some of his peers and can bite on play-actions and double moves, leaving his guy wide open. It would be interesting to see just how high Cisco could’ve gone if he didn’t have the freak ACL injury but if Rivera believes he is healing properly and is just as athletic as he is on film, this would be an exciting player to add to our defense especially in the 3^rd or 4^th round.

4^th Round (WFT picks #124):

Shaun Wade, CB, OSU (4-5^th Round): Wade opted out of the 2020 season but once the Big Ten changed their minds on the season, he came back and was a 1^st team All-American finishing the shortened 2020 season with 35 tackles, 2 Ints, and 4 passes defended. Towards the end of the season, Wade was overmatched by some of his opponents, especially in the national championship game against Devonta Smith. The former 5-star recruit has plenty of potential and is well worth a 4^th round pick. He could grow behind WJ3 and Fuller and possibly challenge Jimmy Moreland for the nickel CB position. It’s fair to say he will also benefit greatly from a year or two in an NFL training facility and having Chase Young rushing the passer in front of him again.

Khalil Herbert, RB, VT (4-5^th Round): Herbert is advertised as a power back but his speed was evident this past season as he went for 1182 yards and 8 TDs with 7.7 yards per carry. Receiving is listed as a weakness but he finished the year with 179 yards on 11 reception as well. Hell, he even has a 99-yard kick return on his stat sheet. His vision and patience are evident on film plus he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at his pro day. He would be a fine addition to our backfield with Gibson and McKissic.

Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana (4-6^th Round): Jamar Johnson finished the 2020 season with 4 INTs, 3.5 TFLs, 4 passes defended and was the first Indiana safety to finish All-Big Ten since 1996. Johnson possesses the prototypical size for a safety, standing 6’2” and weighing 205lbs. He ran a 4.58 40 as well as a 35” vert and 17 reps on the bench. Similar to Cisco, Johnson played more strong safety for Indiana and may not be the true FS to complement Curl. However, unlike Cisco, Johnson seems comfortable as the last man of defense. He does a great job of reading QBs eyes and has excellent hands to make a play on the ball. Johnson may not be as explosive as Cisco, but he’s a solid player and rarely finds himself out of position. Johnson was a special team’s demon as well at Indiana which may be where he starts his NFL career. The WFT could do a lot worse than selecting one of the standouts for a surprisingly impressive Indiana Hoosiers defense that gave Ohio State fits (Johnson picked off Justin Fields twice).

Brady Christensen, OT, BYU (3-4^th Round): If the WFT hasn’t addressed the tackle position by the 4^th round, there is a chance that Christensen might fall right into their laps here in the 4^th because of the depth of this draft class. Christensen was one of the top graded tackles in 2020 by Pro Football Focus and was a big part of the Cougars (and Zach Wilsons) success. He was named a first-team All-American for his season and is one of the most technically sound prospects in the draft. The only issue is he’s much older than his peers in the class; he’ll be 24 years old heading into his rookie season because he took two years off for a mission trip. Christensen will need to bulk up to be an every-down starter in the NFL but there is nothing wrong with taking a consensus All-American in the 4^th round if he’s available.

5^th Round (WFT picks #163):

Dax Milne, WR, BYU (5^th-Undrafted): Milne is being overlooked by scouts even though he had a phenomenal season for the Cougars. He was Zach Wilson’s favorite target, finishing the year with 70 receptions for 1,188 yards and eight TDs. Milne made plenty of big time catches in traffic as well as some spectacular one-handed catches. Scouts say he may not be able to separate at the NFL level and doesn’t pose much of a threat after the catch. However, after running 4.57 40 at his pro day, he might be able to separate more than they think.  Depending on whether or not the WR position has been addressed by the WFT earlier in the draft, Milne could be a sleeper who would have a chance to not only make the roster, but possibly start out wide as well.

Jordan Smith, DE, UAB (5^th-7^th Round): Yes, the WFT has two young, fierce defensive ends. However, after the departure of Kerrigan and Anderson, if either Young or Sweat go down with an injury, we might have to start last year’s 7^th round pick James Smith-Williams or free agent pickup Casey Toohill (2020 7^th rounder as well). We could certainly use some depth and Smith could not only provide depth, but some potential upside as well. Smith stands 6’6” and weighs 255lbs. He transferred from Florida to UAB where he shined for the Blazers, forcing 12.5 sacks, 23.5 TFLs and 3 forced fumbles in two years. Smith has some flashes on film, but found himself double/ triple teamed often so it was hard to really grade correctly. He doesn’t have the hip bend and agility of a top pass rusher, getting pushed around the pocket often and getting juked by smaller RBs occasionally. However, he knows how to use his length to bat passes and is solid against the run. I like the upside of selecting him in the 5^th round here, if he’s available.  

7^th Round (WFT picks #244 and #246):

Mike Strachan, WR, Charleston (6-7^th Round): Strachan stands 6’5”, weighs 225lbs, ran a 4.46 40, and dominated DII over the last two years. As for a 7^th round flyer, you could do a whole lot worse than an ultra-productive DII player with NFL athleticism (finished 2019 with 78 receptions, 1,319 yard and 19 TDs in 11 games). 

Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina (6-7^th Round): As I said before, the WFT needs some depth at DE. The 6’2” 270lb Tarron Jackson is relentless. He has a high motor and his coaches rave about his work ethic. Jackson is quick off the snap and likes to use his bull rush to shrink the pocket. Every now and then, he’ll do a hop-step and jump around the offensive lineman expecting the bull rush, and he’s in the backfield for creating a big TFL. Clearly football means a lot to this player so he will certainly give it his all to make the team. Hopefully the WFT take a flyer on this Jackson.

We are one week away from the NFL draft so it’s time to finalize some of the rankings! Outside of Terry McLaurin, the WFT wide receivers were dreadful last year and the position was a glaring need heading into the off season. The skins were able to address it in Free Agency, adding McLaurin’s old college roommate Curtis Samuel to a three year, $34.5M deal. He had a heck of a season last year with Carolina finishing with 1051 total yards (851 receiving, 200 rushing) 77 receptions and 5 TDs. Curtis did most of his damage at slot so he’s not the prototypical #2 WR to Terry’s #1 spot, but he fills a need and should be an impact player for the WFT immediately. It’s fair to say the skins are not finished addressing the position as they still need depth and could use a 3^rd or a 4^th option.  Luckily this draft is filled with pro-ready wide receivers and may even have more talent than last years class.  Here is my top 10 WRs in this year’s draft:

1. Devonta Smith, Alabama: Top 10: 6’1” 166lbs: Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner is top of my list and was absolutely unstoppable at times. There are some concerns about his lack of weight and small frame but if he can continue the get open at the rate at which he did for the Crimson Tide last year, he will be a star for years to come.
2. Jamar Chase, LSU: Top 10: 6’0” 208lbs: Jamar Chase was the Biletnikoff winner from 2019 and was a big part of the Tigers national championship team. Any other year, he would be WR1 (that’s just how good Devonta Smith was). He was the best receiver on a team that also had Justin Jefferson for crying out loud. Chase took a year off for COVID reasons but he proved at his pro day that he has kept in shape during his time off. I have no doubt Chase will be a stud in the NFL on the right team.
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: 1st Round: 5’10” 182lbs: Jaylen Waddle was actually Alabama’s WR1 early in the 2020 season before his early season injury forced him out. Some scouts believe he may actually be better than his teammate Devonta Smith. He also proved how tough he is by playing in the national championship game all while clearly still injured. Smith is a smooth route-runner and has home run speed. At the very least, he will be a scary kick returner. Any other year, he would go top 10 but I still doubt he falls past 15.
4. Rashad Bateman, Minnesota: 1st Round: 6’0 190lbs: Bateman is an exciting player. His highlights are filled with tough contested 50/50 balls and one-handed catches but he also boasts 4.39 speed and clearly has no problem separating after the catch. Any other year, he would be considered a top 10 pick and I’d be surprised if he falls out of the 1^st round.
5. Kadarius Toney, Florida: 1-2nd round: 5’11” 189lbs: Toney is an electrifying player. He was a big part of the Gators offense where he finished the 2020 season with 14.1 yards per catch and 11 TDs. Toney is a slot receiver who is always one cut away from a house call every time he gets the football. Toney ran a 4.39 40 and his speed certainly shows up on the film as well as his toughness to go after outside linebackers while run blocking and the strength/balance to break tackles in the secondary. If his name isn’t called day 1, it will be called early on day 2.
6. Terrance Marshall, LSU: 2nd Round: 6’3” 205lbs: Marshall had a chance to shine this year for LSU with Chase sitting out and finished the season with 731 yards and ten TDs on 48 receptions. Marshall is taller than the rest of group and boasts 4.38 40 speed. He is being slept on a little bit in this draft but he has all the traits to be just as good, if not better, than the rest of this class. He may sneak into the end of the 1^st round but is most likely a 2^nd round selection.
7. Jaelon Darden, North Texas: 2nd Round: 5’8” 174lbs: Darden had a great 2020 season, finishing 2^nd in the NCAA in TDs with 19 (behind the Heisman Trophy winner) and 1,190 yards in 9 starts (132.2 yards per game). Basically, he was a man among boys in the C-USA. Darden agility is mesmerizing on film, constantly making defenders whiff completely, fall over, and run into one another. I don’t see how this wouldn’t transfer to the NFL. Darden is being overlooked mainly because of the conference he was in and his frail frame/ small hands. However, if can be utilized in the NFL like he was in North Texas, he should be an impact player immediately. Moreover, he strikes me as the kind of person who will keep that chip on his shoulder of knowing how scouts are discounting him for his size harder than some of the other prospects in this draft. If it were up to me, I’d select him in the 2^nd round but some say he could go as late as the 4^th.
8. Elijah Moore, Ole Miss: 2-3^rd Round: 5’9” 178lbs: Moore is another play-making slot receiver to add this to this deep class of playmakers. Moore catches everything, setting a Ole Miss school record of 86 receptions in a season that last held by AJ Brown. Moore has great balance and is a precise route runner. Further he has fantastic body control, balance and agility as well. One scout even compared him to Antonio Brown and honestly, I can see it. Look for his name to be called either late round 2 or early round 3.
9. Rondale Moore, Purdue: 3^rd Round: 5’7” 180lbs: Moore’s pro day was incredible: he ran a 4.29 40 and showed off a 42.5” vertical. There are also clips of him squatting 600lbs as a freshman. Yet, Moore’s 4.29 speed didn’t always show up on film and seemed to go down easy on contact. Still, Moore is a threat to take it all the way every time he has the ball in his hands and has a knack of getting open. Moore will slip in this draft due to his height but I can see him being a fine slot receiver in the NFL for the right team.
10. Dwayne Eskridge, Western Michigan: 3-4th Round: 5’9” 190lbs: Eskridge rounds out my top 10 and he’s yet another exciting speed demon to add to this loaded class. Eskridge averaged 21.4 yards per catch in 2020 and ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day. Obviously, this speed overmatched his competition in the MAC conference, where he scored touchdowns of 72, 76 and 85 yards. Scouts have issues with the limited route tree he ran in the Western Michigan offense (basically sent him deep every play) and there are concerns about him being over powered by stronger, pressing DBs. Yet, speed kills and if this guy finds a seam, he’s gone. Look for Eskridge’s name to be called late in round 3.

Summary: Honestly, there might be 20 WRs in this draft that could start for the WFT tomorrow. Few names that failed to make the top 10 but I really like are Nico Collins (3-4^th round, Michigan), Sage Surratt (4^th round Wake Forest), Shi Smith (4^th Round, USC), Amari Rodgers (5^th round, Clemson), Dax Milne (5-7^th round BYU).  Frankly, this class is stacked. I’ll add there is no reason for the WFT to draft a WR at #19 (unless Smith or Chase falls). There will certainly be a few studs available later in the draft that could fill our 3^rd and 4^th spots.