NFL Combine Preview and Rankings

Written by Christian Lysek

LSU CB Donte Jackson (Crystal LoGiudice, USA Today Sports)

The combine is here! After months of guessing about how fast and explosive players are off of tape, we will finally get their athletic numbers and begin to separate these prospects. There is a lot to dissect in this years combine, so let's jump right in and breakdown every position in Indianapolis.

Note: I stole the predictions format from the Locked on NFL Draft podcast with Trevor Sikkema and John Ledyard, so shoutout to those guys for making a fun and easy prediction formant.

Quarterbacks

Who Needs to Impress:

• Baker Mayfield, Interviews: Mayfield is a great leader, but he is going to have to prove he is mature enough from the NFL. He needs to impress evaluators when they ask him questions about his arrest and controversies at Oklahoma.
• Josh Rosen, Interviews: Rosen gets slandered all the time for being uncoachable and selfish, so teams are going to have to determine for themselves whether or not there is any truth to those notions
• Lamar Jackson, Field Drills: I am a big Lamar Jackson fan, but if it's one area he needs to improve upon, it's his deep ball accuracy. If Jackson can hit deep passes outside of the numbers during the field drills, it will leave a big impression on scouts and GMs.
• Marshall QB Chase Litton, Interviews: Chase Litton has intriguing size and tools, but his off-field history is sketchy. He has been arrested for burglary, and the pieces I read about his past paint him as an arrogant guy. Whether or not those notions are true is what evaluators are going to find out.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Lamar Jackson
• Duh
• Best Vertical Jump: Lamar Jackson
• Duh
• Best Broad Jump: Lamar Jackson
• Duh
• Best Short Shuttle: Quinton Flowers, USF
• Du-wait! Yes, Lamar Jackson is a freak, but don't sleep on Quinton Flowers when it comes to the agility drills. His low center of gravity and quickness will serve him well here, and he could steal the win from Jackson.
• Best 3-Cone: Quinton Flowers
• See above
• Best Bench Press: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
• Mayfield has short arms, a thick frame, and a cocky demeanor, all signs of a standout bencher.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Chase Litton
• I almost went with Texas Tech's Nic Shimonek here, but Litton runs like his 6'6'' frame is made of concrete.
• Worst Bench Press: Riley Ferguson, Memphis
• Ferguson is 6'4'' and 196 pounds with long arms. The string bean build will do him no favors while pumping the iron.
• Overall Winner: Lamar Jackson
• He is going to post some alien-esq numbers for a quarterback and I think will look good throwing with no pressure.
• Overall Loser: None

Running Backs:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Mark Walton, Medicals: Walton is a great talent in this draft class, but he will have to prove he is recovered from the fractured ankle that ended his 2017 season.
• Georgia RB Nick Chubb, Medicals: Nick Chubb has recovered quite nicely from his devastating knee injury in 2015, but teams are going to determine whether or not the injury brings any long-term consequences.
• Auburn RB Kamryn Pettway, Interview: Pettway was booted from Auburn football late in the 2017 season for undisclosed reasons. He will have to answer questions as to why he was kicked out and how he has changed since.
• Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson, 40 yard dash: Kerryon Johnson is quick and elusive for a big back, but he looks sluggish on tape. He dealt with some nagging injuries in 2017, so maybe a healthy Kerryon is much faster. Either way, his 40 time will be revealing.
• Tennessee RB John Kelly, 40 yard dash: Kelly is a bruising back but his long speed on tape is unimpressive. His 40 time will directly impact where he will be drafted.
• Ronald Jones, Weigh-In: It won't impact may grade that much, but I would much prefer if Jones came in at least 200 lbs instead of 190. 

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Nyheim Hynes, NC State
• Saquon Barkley seems like the obvious choice here, by Nyheim Hynes is a burner. He ran a 4.34 in high school, and that time usually improves as players build muscle. He is going to destroy many of these combine events.
• Best Vertical Jump: Saquon Barkley
• The man power cleans over 400 pounds and can squat 500 pounds 7 times. That is the definition of lower body explosiveness. He is going to jump out of the gym.  
• Best Broad Jump: Saquon Barkley
• See Above
• Best Short Shuttle: Ronald Jones II
• RoJo will probably finish in the top-5 in most of these events, but I think his quickness and burst in going to help him win the top spot in the short shuttle.
• Best 3-Cone: Akrum Wadley, Iowa
• I'm not a big Akrum Wadley fan, but he is short and extremely agile, so he should take the 3-cone crown.
• Best Bench Press: Saquon Barkley
• He threw up 225 pounds 30 times at a Penn State charity event. He should win this easy.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Kamryn Pettway
• When you are 235 pounds and wear a cowboy collar, speed is not your game.
• Worst Bench Press: Akrum Wadley
• Wadley is tiny at a mere 181 pounds, so don't expect him to be throwing up much weight at the combine.
• Overall Winners: Saquon Barkley, Nyheim Hynes, Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage
• We already talked about Barkley and Hynes, but Ballage is a freak too. At 6'2'' and 230 pounds, he probably isn't going to take 1st place in anything, but he is going to finish top five in almost every drill.
• Overall Losers: Darrell Williams, Josh Adams
• The combine is not made for these dude, as both are big bruisers who look unathletic on tape.

Wide Receivers:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Every Receiver 6'3'' and taller, 40 yard dash: There is a glut of tall receivers (Courtland Sutton, Auden Tate, EQ St. Brown, Allen Lazard, Simmie Cobbs, to name a few) in this draft and not much is separating them right now. A good 40 yard dash could mean the difference between a day two selection and going undrafted.
• James Washington, 40 yard dash: James Washington has been the nations best deep threat for the past three seasons, but evaluators still are not convinced he can run fast enough to separate in the NFL. Anything under a 4.5 is a win for him.
• Deontay Burnett, Weigh in: Deontay Burnett weighs a mere 176 lbs, which very light for a guy who's game revolves around going over the middle of the field and catching passes. Adding a few pounds would ease some teams concerns about his durability.
• Florida WR Antonio Callaway, Interviews: Callaway is an undeniable talent on the field, but teams are going to pelt him with questions about his criminal past, which involves marijuana, sexual abuse, and credit card fraud. 

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Trey Quinn, SMU
• White boy for the win! Quinn ran a 4.38 40 yard dash in high school, so this isn't as much of a stretch as one might imagine. This will be a close race, however, as players like Keke Coutee, D.J. Moore, and Byron Pringle all have legit shots at being the fastest WR.
• Best Vertical Jump: Dante Pettis, Washington
• Dante Pettis is an explosive wide receiver who has several outstanding jump ball catches on film. He should be in the high-30s with his jump.
• Best Broad Jump: Dante Pettis
• I think Pettis will take this event too, as his explosion is pretty dang good.
• Best Short Shuttle: D.J. Moore, Maryland
• D.J. Moore's game revolves around his ability to gain YAC, and part of his move set is his elite agility and burst. That should translate to a good shuttle time.
• Best 3-Cone: Calvin Ridley
• Good route runners tend to excel in the 3-cone, and Ridley is probably the best in this class. 
• Best Bench Press: James Washington, Oklahoma State
• James Washington's running back like build (short, muscled out, short arms) should translate to throwing up plenty of bench press reps.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Simmie Cobbs Jr., Indiana
• I'm not sure how likely this is, but having already done the film work on Cobbs, I can confirm he is S-L-O-W. He constantly gets pushed out of bounds because he has no speed to create separation.
• Worst Bench Press: Deontay Burnett
• Burnett weighs less than 180 pounds and looks like a high school sophomore, he should be the worst by a country mile.
• Overall Winners: Equinameous St. Brown (Notre Dame), Dante Pettis, Deon Cain (Clemson)
• Equinameous St.  Brown is going to stand out amongst the other big receivers because he is by far the smoothest mover and probably the best athlete. Dante Pettis is going to crush the jumping drills, and he is likely to run a sub 4.5 40 yard dash as well. Deon Cain might not win any event, but a well-rounded combine could generate some buzz around his name, which he could use at thise point.
• Overall Losers: Deontay Burnett, Allen Lazard, Braxton Berrios
• Deontay Burnett is too small and not good enough of an athlete to really impress. Allen Lazard might be the biggest wide receiver here, so he is going to stand out as a slow mover against his smaller competition. Braxton berrios will do good in the agility drills, but I'm preparing to be underwhelmed in the other ones.

Tight Ends:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Chris Herndon, Miami, Medicals: I'm not sure if Herndon will participate in any combine events due to a season ending MCL surgery, but he needs to prove he is on track health wise.
• Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State, 40 yard dash: Goedert has a chance to be the first tight end drafted, but in order to do so he is going to have to prove his athletic potential with a good 40 time.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Jaylen Samuels, NC State
• For whatever reason, the combine has Jaylen Samuels working out at tight end, even though he is more physically comparable to some of the other positions he played (WR, RB, FB). Samuels is going to crush the tight end group because of his smaller, faster build.
• Best Vertical Jump: Mike Gesicki, Penn State
• Gesicki is a goofy looking sprinter and cannot block, but he can jump out of the gym. He should jump just under 40". 
• Best Broad Jump: Mike Gesicki
• All you need to know is that Gesicki beat Saquon Barkley in the broad jump at Penn State.
• Best Short Shuttle: Jaylen Samuels
• See 40 time
• Best 3-Cone: Jaylen Samuels
• See above
• Best Bench Press: Durham Smyth, Notre Dame
• Smyth is a big, strong blocking tight end, the perfect bench press champion.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Tony Fumagalli, Wisconsin
• Fumagalli is a really good blocker, but you can tell on tape he isn't athletic at all.
• Worst Bench Press: Mike Gesicki
• If blocking is an indicator of bench press success, Gesicki might not be able to unrack the weight.
• Overall Winners: Jaylen Samuels, Mike Gesicki
• Jaylen Samuels is going to wow everyone because he will post running back numbers amongst guys who are 6'5'' and 260 pounds. Gesicki is going to blow away the lower body explosion tests.
• Overall Losers: Troy Fumagalli
• Fumagalli's lack of athleticism is going to be exposed here.

Offensive Line:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Orlando Brown, Oklahoma, Position Drills: Orlando Brown is enormous at 6'8'' and 340 pounds, but he is going to have to impress scouts with his movements skills on the field in order to maintain first round consideration.
• Mason Cole, Michigan, Position Drills: Mason Cole is transitioning back to center after a season of playing left tackle, and he needs to show the same great technique and movement skills that made me such a big fan of his after his junior year.
• Desmond Harrison, West Georgia, Weigh-Ins: Harrison weighed a mere 275 pounds at the Senior Bowl, so weighing in heavier will be critical for his draft stock.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Brian O'Neill, Pitt
• Brian O'Neill is a former tight end who's athleticism pops on tape. He is going to destroy most of these events just because he isn't a big, lumbering guy.
• Best Vertical Jump: Connor Williams, Texas 
• Connor Williams posted a video on twitter of himself dunking a few weeks ago, which leads me to believe he has good enough lower body explosion to be at least towards the top of the jumping events
• Best Broad Jump: Connor Williams, Texas
• See Above
• Best Short Shuttle: Brian O'Neill, Pitt
• See Above
• Best 3-Cone: Brian O'Neill, Pitt
• See Above
• Best Bench Press: Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
• Quenton Nelson benched 225 pounds 26 times IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! Lord knows what he can bench now, but he should crush this event.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
• Orlando Brown is just too big to have a very good time in this event.
• Worst Bench Press: Desmond Harrison
• When you are 25 pounds lighter than almost everyone else, I picking you last for the bench press.
• Overall Winners: Connor Williams, Brian O'Neill
• Connor Williams and Brian O'Neill are very good athletes who are going to shine against an offensive line group that, while good, isn't the most athletic from top to bottom.
• Overall Losers: Orlando Brown
• At 6'8'' and 340 pounds, i just cannot envision him finding much success in any of these drills.

Defensive Line:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Maurice Hurst, Michigan, Weigh In: Maurice Hurst weighed under 280 pounds at one point, which is way to light for a 3-technique defensive lineman. He needs to come in at least 285 to ease my concerns.
• Lowell Lotulelei, Utah, Interviews: According to a scout's quote from a tweet by Jesse Fritsch, Lotulelei has work ethic concerns. Teams are going to pester him about his habits in college and whether he is willing to work hard enough in the NFL. 

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Taven Bryan, Florida
• Taven Bryan is in another athletic dimension compared to some of these dudes. He is going to blow the doors off of the combine.
• Best Vertical Jump: Maurice Hurst, Michigan
• I like Hurst's lower body explosion off of the snap, and that might translate to a good vertical jump.
• Best Broad Jump: Taven Bryan
• See Above.
• Best Short Shuttle: Taven Bryan
• See Above.
• Best 3-Cone: Maurice Hurst
• Hurst is a shorter, lighter prospect and he looks quick on film, so I'm picking him to win the 3-cone.
• Best Bench Press: Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
• Derrick Nnadi has short arms and is strong as an ox on film. He should betowards the top in term sof bench press performance.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Lowell Lotulelei
• Lotulelei is a run stuffing nose tackle with work ethic concerns, making him a strong candidate for worst 40.
• Worst Bench Press: Bilal Nichols, Delaware
• To be honest, I'm throwing a dart at the board with this one.
• Overall Winners: Taven Bryan, Maurice Hurst
• Bryan and Hurst were standout athletes in college, and that should translate against this defensive line class filled with big run stuffers.
• Overall Losers: Lowell Lotulelei
• if the work ethic concerns are legit, there is no reason for me to believe he will have a good combine performance.

EDGE:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Josh Sweat, Florida State, Medicals: Josh Sweat has torn his knees up several times, so his medicals will be crucial when determining what round he is worth selecting in.
• Arden Key, LSU, Everything: No player has more riding on the combine than Key. From weigh in to interviews to testing, Key needs a great few days to be considered a high draft pick.
• Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State, 3-Cone: I like Tyquan Lewis, but i do admit he looks stiff as an athlete. His three cone will determine a lot about his pass rushing upside.
• Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State, Athletic testing: Mata'afa is preparing to make the change from interior defensive line to the edge, so testing like a defensive end is going to be critical for the former Cougar.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Josh Sweat
• Josh Sweat ran a 4.46 in high school. if he runs anywhere near that, evaluators are going to crap themselves.
• Best Vertical Jump: Kentavious Street, NC State
• Kentavious Street can squat a whopping 700 pounds, which should easily translate to a high vertical jump.
• Best Broad Jump: Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss
• Haynes is undersized for an EDGE rusher, but his athleticism stands out on tape. I have a feeling he could steal this event from Street.
• Best Short Shuttle: Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
• Kemoko Turay was very impressive at the Senior Bowl, displaying great burst and quickness. He should excel at both this and the 3-cone.
• Best 3-Cone: Harold Landry, Boston College
• Harold Landry is better than everybody else in this class at bending the edge, so I'm picking him to win the 3-cone.
• Best Bench Press: Kentavious Street
• I'm guessing the guy with a 700 pound squat also has a good bench press workout.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Andrew Brown, VUA
• Andrew Brown is a three technique playing with a bunch of defensive ends, so he is an easy choice.
• Worst Bench Press: Uchenna Nwosu, USC
• Nwosu is very undersized for the position and will probably be moved off the ball in the pros. I doubt he will throw up many bench press reps.
• Overall Winners: Kentavius Street, Leon Jacobs (Wisconsin), Josh Sweat
• Kentavius Street and Josh Sweat should be in the top five for almost every event, but don't sleep on Leon Jacobs. He looks like a greek god and should standout in any event that has to do with strength.
• Overall Losers: Andrew Brown, Duke Ejiofor
• Andrew brown is a defensive tackle, so he is going to stick out like a sore thumb. I like Ejiofor as a run-stuffer, but i don't think he has the explosiveness or bend to test very well.

Linebackers:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Josey Jewell, Iowa, 40 yard dash: Josey Jewell has great football instincts, but his sideline to sideline speed is questionable. A good 40 time could see him go in the second round, however.
• Jack Cichy, Wisconsin, Medicals: Jack Cichy had an injury plagued career at Wisconsin, so teams will have to determine whether his long term outlook is worth a gamble in the draft.
• Micah Kiser, UVA, 40 yard dash: Micah Kiser racked up a huge amount of tackles at UVA, but he is obviously not very athletic on tape. Kiser needs to blow away our expectations with a good run.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Dorian O'Daniel, Clemson
• Dorian O'Daniel is a linebacker safety hybrid whose speed stood out in person when I watched Clemson play Virginia Tech. He is a dark horse to win the 40.
• Best Vertical Jump: Malik Jefferson, Texas
• It is no secret Jefferson is a freak athlete, so expect him to win at least one event.
• Best Broad Jump: Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
• Edmunds is a freak athlete who should test very well in all of these drills, especially the jumps, thanks to his explosiveness.
• Best Short Shuttle: Roquan Smith, Georgia
• Roquan Smith is the most agile linebacker in this class, so expect good drill times from the Bulldog.
• Best 3-Cone: Roquon Smith
• See Above
• Best Bench Press: Rashaan Evans, Alabama
• Evans just straight up laid dudes out several times a season at Alabama. I believe that will translate to an excellent bench press performance.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Micah Kiser, Virginia
• I don't think Kiser will be able to run a good time. He looks far too stiff and slow on tape.
• Worst Bench Press: Jerome Baker, Ohio State
• Jerome Baker avoids offensive lineman like the plague on film because he knows he is going to get bullied. Add that to a long, lean frame, and Baker should be the worst bencher.
• Overall Winners: Malik Jefferson, Tremaine Edmunds, Keishawn Bierria
• Jefferson and Edmunds are shoe ins for this award, but forgotten man Keishawn Bierria is the one to watch. He is undersized, but much like Roquan Smith, he makes up for it which speed, athleticism, and tenacity. Expect his name to start buzzing once testing begins.
• Overall Losers: Micah Kizer
• See above

Cornerbacks:

Who Needs to Impress:

• Holton Hill, Texas, Drug Test: Holton Hill was booted from Texas due to marijuana, so showing up clean to the combine will be vital to his draft stock.
• Josh Jackson, Iowa, 40 yard dash:Jackson is a prototype corner at 6'1'', almost 200 pounds, and long arms. He is going to have to run fast, however, to get top-15 consideration.
• Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State, Athletic Testing: McFadden went from top-10 pick to forgotten prospect in 6 months. He needs to give evaluators a reason to remember him and draft him high.
• Mike Hughes, UCF, Interviews: Hughes was kicked off of North Carolina's football team before heading to Central Florida, so teams are going to pelt him with questions about his dismissal and character. 

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Donte Jackson, LSU
• Donte Jackson ran track at LSU, posting a 10.22 100 meter dash during a 2017 met, which is blazing fast. he is the favorite to win it all.
• Best Vertical Jump: Josh Jackson
• Look at this interception and tell my why Jackson will struggle at all in the jumps? he should win these.
• Best Broad Jump: Josh Jackson
• See above.
• Best Short Shuttle: Jaire Alexander, Louisville
• Jaire Alexander has great quickness and body control, so i'm picking him for the agility drills.
• Best 3-Cone: Jaire Alexander
• See above.
• Best Bench Press: Carlton Davis, Auburn
• Carlton Davis is as scrappy as it gets for a corner, and his pure, raw strength should give him a victory in the bench press.
• Worst 40-yard dash: Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma
• I'm not a Jordan Thomas fan at all, and he is one of the few corners that stood out to me as slow, making him an easy choice.
• Worst Bench Press: Levi Wallace, Alabama
• Levi Wallace is under 180 pounds and has long, gangly arms. He will be at the bottom in terms of bench-press performance.
• Overall Winners: Josh Jackson, Donte Jackson, Denzel Ward, Jaire Alexander
• All four of these guys were in consideration for the top spot in almost every event, so look for them to be the standout guys in Indy.
• Overall Losers: Jordan Thomas
• Jordan Thomas looks like a limited athlete and he has off the field issues. Thomas is a recipe for disaster at the combine.

Safeties:

Who Needs to Impress:

• DeShon Elliot, Texas, 40-yard dash: Detractors of DeShon Elliot often mention concerns about his speed, so Elliot running a good 40 time is crucial to his draft stock.
• Quin Blanding, UVA, 40-yard dash: Quin Blanding is a box safety who appears to be limited in coverage due to his lack of game speed. A good 40 time, however, could cause GMs to overlook the field and see his athletic upside.

Predictions:

• Best 40 yard dash: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
• This is going to be the Minak-Derwin show, with Derwin taking all of the strength and explosion events and Minkah claiming the speed ones. Don't over think this, these guys are aliens.
• Best Vertical Jump: Derwin James, Florida State
• See Above
• Best Broad Jump: Derwin James, Florida State
• See Above
• Best Short Shuttle: Minkah Fitzpatrick
• See Above
• Best 3-Cone: Minkah Fitzpatrick
• See Above
• Best Bench Press: Derwin James
• See Above
• Worst 40-yard dash: Quin Blanding, UVA
• See Above
• Worst Bench Press: Van Smith, Clemson
• Van Smith is only 5'11'' and 185 according to Clemson's website, so I'm not expecting many bench press reps from Smith.
• Overall Winners: DeShon Elliot, Jordan Whitehead (Pitt)
• Derwin and Minkah are already at the top, so lets focus on two other safeties in Elliot and Whitehead. I think Elliot will run a fast 40 and ease concerns about his speed, while Whitehead with use his athleticism to post good number s across the board.
• Overall Losers: Quin Blanding, Marcus Allen (Penn State)
• These guys are run stuffing box safeties who be exposed in speed events and field drills.

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Mock Draft 3.0: Post CFB Season Edition

Written by Christian Lysek

What a game, eh? The National Championship was a thriller and a great conclusion to the 2017 College Football season. Now that it is finished, it seems like a good time to drop a mock draft and get a feel for where the prospects stand at this point in time. Without further ado, let’s get Mock Draft 3.0 started. Note: An OSOB prospect is a hypothetical "other side of the ball prospect." As long as a player has not been picked in the real mock draft and plays on the opposite side of the ball of the player picked, then they can be selected for the team. Note Two: I made these rankings past pick 24. Note Three: if you don't know how I do mock drafts, it's simple. I use my board and pick the players I would pick for a team. I am not shooting for a prediction, just a projection.



Round 1:

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
We start out mock 3.0 the same way we did mock 2.0: with the Browns drafting Josh Rosen. DeShon Kizer has been the same inaccurate and mistake prone player he was in college for the Browns, so they need to take the L and move on. Rosen elevates the talent around him with his poise and playmaking ability, so he may finally be the answer they need at quarterback.
OSOB Prospect: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama


2. New York Giants: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

I know this pick is unlikely because of Mayfield’s height and antics, but I can’t help but love it. The Giants need new leaders to spark a culture change, like the Jets did last year by drafting Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Baker Mayfield is cocky and always in the media, but his teammates love him and he has blown away my expectations on the field this season.
OSOB Prospect: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State
The Colts lack a cornerstone pass rusher, one of the essentials of football. Knowing that, the Colts select Bradley Chubb, the consensus best EDGE prospect who can stop the run and destroy quarterbacks.
OSOB Prospect: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame


4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans): Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
The general idea analysts had on Jabrill Peppers was that you could play him almost anywhere in your secondary except as a single high free safety or an outside corner. Naturally the Browns drafted and played him at single high free safety. The Browns need to move on from that disaster, and one way to do that would be to select Minkah Fitzpatrick to play free safety and moving Peppers to strong safety. That would maximize each player’s best talents. 
OSOB Prospect: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State


5. Denver Broncos: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
I can definitely see the Broncos going quarterback here, but I expect them to make a run at some of the free agent quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins first. If they do find their man in free agency, I would go best player available and take Saquon Barkley. I have never been a huge C.J. Anderson guy, and I just think Barkley offers so much more as a player. He could help reenergize this stale offense.

OSOB Prospect: DeShon Elliot, S, Texas

6. New York Jets: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Josh McCown had a really good year for the Jets, but the unfortunate truth is that this franchise is stuck in the water until they find a quarterback. Sam Darnold had too many turnovers this season, but he has a clutch ability that is unteachable and plenty of good game film.

OSOB Prospect: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE, Oklahoma

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
The Buccaneers were a disappointment this season, mostly due to their failure to win in the trenches. The Bucs offensive line is pretty bad outside of 2015 draft pick Ali Marpet, and while left tackle might seem like a bigger priority, Quenton Nelson is the best offensive line prospect in this class and looks like a plug and play Pro Bowler. 
OSOB Prospect: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson


8. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Bears actually have a pretty strong roster, they are just missing a couple of pieces. And by that I mean a couple of wide receivers. Calvin Ridley may be a reach at number 8, but when Kendall Wright is your leading receiver, reaching becomes justified. 
OSOB Prospect: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa


9. Oakland Raiders: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Raiders linebacking corps consists of Navarro Bowman and nobody else worth mentioning. Tremaine Edmunds is a freak at 6’5” and 245 pounds, and he could be one of the Raiders defensive cornerstones for the next several years.
OSOB Prospect: Connor Williams, OT, Texas


10. San Francisco 49ers: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
John Lynch has been kicking ass and taking names during his first year as the 49ers general manager, turning one of the leagues most talent devoid rosters and turning it into a winning machine down the stretch. Now that Lynch has his quarterback in Jimmy G, the next item on the shopping list a shutdown corner, which is where Joshua Jackson comes into play. He turned into a star this season thanks to his athleticism, size and ball skills, which will all serve him well in the NFL.
OSOB Prospect: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU


11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
The Dolphins have a top ten defensive line and a bottom five linebacking corps. Getting Raekwon McMillan back from injury will help, but adding Roquan Smith to the mix would give the Dolphins old linebacking corps more speed and playmaking ability.
OSOB Prospect: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU


12. Cincinnati Bengals: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
The Cedric Ogbuehi/Jake Fisher tackle combo was a miserable failure in 2017, so instead of waiting for chicken crap to turn into chicken salad, I would just take the best left tackle in the class, Connor Williams. Williams could secure the left tackle spot for the next decade for the Bengals.
OSOB Prospect: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

13. Green Bay Packers: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Packers defense has been underwhelming to say the least, especially with Clay Matthews getting older. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is more explosive than any pass rusher currently on the Packers roster and would make a fearsome trio with Nick Perry and Vince Biegel for the next several years.
OSOB Prospect: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU


14. Washington Redskins: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
I love Josh Doctson, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations so far and the best Redskins receivers are solely slot guys, so I had to take James Washington. He could fill the deep threat/playmaking void DeSean Jackson left behind.
OSOB Prospect: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson


15. Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The retirements of Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians mark the end of an era in Arizona. The new Cardinals need a quarterback to lead them in the next era, and Lamar Jackson’s playmaking ability is too good to pass up for me.
OSOB Prospect: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson


16. Baltimore Ravens: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
The Ravens are basically the Broncos of their division: elite defense, mediocre running game, and a vomit-inducing passing offense. I am not an Alex Collins believer, so I would take Derrius Guice, a blue-chip prospect built to carry an offense no matter how bad the passing game is.
OSOB Prospect: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE,

Clemson


17. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
The Chargers are building something special on their defensive line, and while Corey Luiget and Brandon Mebane are fine players, I like the talent and upside of Christian Wilkins better. He is a really good athlete who could shine next to Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
OSOB Prospect: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame


18. Seattle Seahawks: Derwin James, S, Florida State
I think this is the first mock draft where I haven’t given the Seahawks an offensive lineman in the first round, but it is for good reason. The Legion of Boom is nearing it’s end, and the likely first player to go is strong safety Kam Chancellor due to his big cap hit and neck injury. Derwin James isn’t my highest ranked safety on the board at this point, but he is the highest ranked strong safety, so I would take him here.
OSOB Prospect: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame


19. Detroit Lions: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
Anthony Zettel and Ziggy Ansah are fine players, but the Lions need to add at least one more pass rusher to the mix. Clelin Ferrell hasn’t declared yet, but he had a really strong 2017 season and would bolster the Lions pass defense.
OSOB Prospect: Damien Harris, RB, Alabama


20. Dallas Cowboys: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
The Cowboys shouldn’t be looking for a number two receiver to compliment Dez Bryant, they should be looking for a number one receiver for Dez to compliment. Courtland Sutton is an impressive athlete with great hands, and he could be Dak’s number one guy for the next several years.
OSOB Prospect: Taven Bryan, DL, Florida


21. Buffalo Bills: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Preston Brown is a tackling machine for the Bills, but the linebacker spot next to him should be up for grabs. Rashaan Evans is a great athlete who would make a formidable trio with Brown and Lorenzo Alexander.
OSOB Prospect: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M


22. Buffalo Bills: Taven Bryan, DL, Florida
More front seven fixes are on the way for the Bills, but this time they are on the defensive line. The loss of Marcell Dareus was tangible in Buffalo, as the best interior defensive lineman on the roster is Kyle Williams, who is well past his prime. Taven Bryan has an enormous amount of upside and could be a Pro Bowler in the Bills defense.
OSOB Prospect: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M


23. Los Angeles Rams: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
With big contracts for Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley on the horizon, star corner Trumaine Johnson might be the odd man out. Denzel Ward is undersized at 5’10”, but his length, aggressiveness, and ball skills make him the logical successor to Johnson.
OSOB Prospect: Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State

24. Carolina Panthers: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
The Panthers best receivers this season were Devin Funchess, who is still inconsistent, and Christian McCaffrey, who is a running back. The need more reliable options, and Christian Kirk has been a playmaking star ever since he stepped on campus at Texas A&M. 
OSOB Prospect: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado


25. Tennessee Titans: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Adoree Jackson definitely showed flashes of good things to come during his rookie season, but the Titans need to keep adding talent to their secondary. Isaiah Oliver is a great man to man corner who would make an exciting duo with Jackson. 
OSOB Prospect: Mason Cole, OL, Michigan


26. Atlanta Falcons: Mason Cole, OL, Michigan
I know all the talk is about guys like Billy Price, Frank Ragnow, and Braden Smithin terms of interior offensive lineman not named Quenton Nelson, but trust me on this one. Mason Cole is a stud interior lineman who played out of position (left tackle) during the 2017 season. After a week at the Senior Bowl playing as an interior lineman, this guy is gonna shoot up boards. The Falcons need guard help, and Cole would be my first choice. 
OSOB Prospect: DeShon Elliott, S, Texas


27. Pittsburgh Steelers: DeShon Elliott, S, Texas
Mike Mitchell is a good player for the Steelers at free safety, but he is now 30 and 2018 will be the last year on his five-year deal. DeShon Elliot is the safety I mentioned earlier who I have ranked ahead of Derwin James. He is a hard hitter and a ball hawk who I would love to see play with strong safety Sean Davis over the next few years. 
OSOB Prospect: Billy Price, OL, Ohio State


28. Philadelphia Eagles: Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State
This offensive tackle class outside of Connor Williams is all over the map, as about 5-6 tackles are currently in consideration for my number two OT ranking. For consistencies sake, I’m going to go with Jamarco Jones for the Eagles, a player I have been high on since summer. He has an excellent build, great athletic traits, and good enough technique to start at tackle in the pros. 
OSOB Prospect: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State


29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
I just finished Mark Andrews film work, and boy did I come away impressed. Much like Evan Engram last year, Mark Andrews is a mismatch nightmare of a tight end who can play inline or in the slot. Add in that his blocking is really underrated, and Andrews is a safe prospect that the Jaguars should really consider taking. 
OSOB Prospect: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State


30. Minnesota Vikings: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
Danielle Hunter is already the star of the future for th Vikings defensive line, but with Brian Robinson and Everson Griffin both getting old, the Vikings need to find Hunter's future running mate. Harold Landry is really just a raw speed rusher right now, but with some coaching, he should be able to live up to his high potential. 
OSOB Prospect: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma


31. New England Patriots: Maurice Hurst, DL, Michigan
Malcolm Brown and Alan Branch are good players for the Patriots, but this defense is quietly getting old and in need of a mini overhaul. Adding Maurice Hurst, an explosive defensive tackle with a non-stop motor, is a step in the rght direction.
OSOB Prospect: Damien Harris, RB, Alabama


32. New Orleans Saints: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
We cap off this mock draft with a “who the hell is that” selection. When is saw Leighton Vander Esch, a junior who was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, declared early for the draft, I was quite skeptical. After looking at the tape, however, this dude is legit. He is an impressive athlete with great instincts and three down ability. He should be a high end starter in the NFL thanks to those traits, and the Saints need just that sort of player in the middle of their defense.
OSOB Prospect: Dante Pettis, WR, Washington

Follow 4 Down Scouting on twitter @4DownScouting

All statistics come from ESPN stats on ESPN.com expect for TFLs, which come from sports-reference.com

The Best Prospect Matchups in Every Bowl Game

Written by Christian Lysek

The regular season is now over for college football, and we are on to bowl season! And whether you are watching the National Championship or the Fruit Ninja Blender Bowl, there are always some prospects to watch. Keep reading to see the best prospect matchups in every bowl game.

Celebration Bowl, Dec 16th @ 12PM, North Carolina A&T vs Grambling
Prospect Matchup: Grambling QB DeVante Kincade and RB Martez Carter vs the North Carolina A&T defense

DeVante Kicade

Sleeper alert! DeVante Kincade is one of the best small school prospects in this year's class, and his arm and athleticism should be on full display. Martez Carter is also a name to watch for, as he is starting to get draft twitter buzz. Analysts think he could find his way into a Tarik Cohen like role in the pros. Both prospects will have their hands full, as the Aggies held 6 of their regular season opponents to 10 points or less. Also be on the watch for Aggie OT Brandon Parker, a Senior Bowl invite.

New Orleans Bowl, Dec 16th @ 1PM, Troy vs North Texas
Prospect Matchup: Troy QB Brandon Silvers vs. the North Texas Defense
This game should be an easy win for Troy, as North Texas really isn't all that good, but I really want to see Brandon Silvers take this game over. Silvers only has 13 TDs on the year, but this North Texas secondary is pretty weak (it gave up 4 TDs to Courtland Sutton). Silvers has a golden opportunity to ball out in this matchup.

Cure Bowl, Dec 16th @ 2:30PM, Georgia State vs Western Kentucky
Prospect Matchup: Western Kentucky QB Mike White vs the Georgia State Defense
Georgia State is a rare team that has no prospects listed on the mega database nfldraftscout.com, but that does not mean they will be a push over. The unit as a whole is only surrendering 145 passing yards per game, so sleeper QB Mike White might have his hands full in this one. If he balls out though, it could help his draft stock.

Las Vegas Bowl, Dec 16th @ 3:30PM, Boise State vs Oregon
Prospect Matchup: Boise State QB Brett Rypien and his weapons vs Oregon QB Justin Herbert and RB Royce Freeman
If you love offense and basketball-like final scores, this might be the game for you. Justin Herbert appears to be everyone's choice for the 2019 class' QB1 and he is surrounded by great weapons. Sleeper quarterback Brett Rypien and his premier weapons WR Cedrick Wilson and TE Jake Roh are gonna have to win a shoot out and avoid making mistakes if they want to win this game.

Chase Litton

New Mexico Bowl, Dec 16th @ 3:30PM, Marshall vs Colorado State
Prospect Matchup: Marshall QB Chase Litton vs Colorado State QB Nick Stevens
Marshall gave up 19.3 points per game this season and Colorado State gave up 27.5 points per game, so expect this one to be a shootout. Chase Litton and Nick Stevens both operate is pass-heavy offenses and both have NFL traits. If you like sleeper QBs, this is your game.

Camellia Bowl, Dec 16th @ 8PM, Arkansas State vs Middle Tennessee State

Prospect Matchup: Arkansas State EDGE Javon Rolland-Jones vs Middle Tennessee State QB Brett Stockstill

Brett Stockstill is a decent quarterback coming off of a shoulder injury, but he isn't a 2018 draft prospect unless he declares because he is a junior. Still, it will be fun to see how he performs in this game as one of college football's finest pass rushers will be chasing him down the entire game. Javon Rolland-Jones is an absolute monster, racking up 62. 5 TFLs and 42 sacks during his time at Arkansas State. He is a major sleeper going into the year.

Boca Raton Bowl, Dec 19th @ 7PM, Florida Atlantic vs Akron
Prospect Matchup: FAU RB Devin Singletary vs Akron LB Ulysees Gilbert III
You probably read the matchup and wondered "Who the hell is Devin Singletary and why should I care that he is going against a Civil War general?" Well here is why. Devin Singletary has quietly been one of the top 3-5 backs in college football, racking up 1796 yards and 29 FREAKING TOUCHDOWNS IN ONE SEASON!!! To put this in perspective, only 11 quarterbacks in college football have thrown for more touchdowns than Singletary has scored. He will be going against First-Team All-MAC stud and Antietam survivor Ulysees Gilbert III, who racked up 122 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 2 forced rumbles this past season. Watching the Junior linebacker try to take down Singletary will be a pleasure.

Frisco Bowl, Dec 20th @ 8PM, SMU vs Louisiana Tech
Prospect Matchup: SMU WR Courtland Sutton vs the Louisiana Tech defense
Courtland Sutton tends to put up some pretty inconsistent stat lines, such as having 8 catches, 163 yards, and 4 TDs in one game then the next week having 1 catch for 0 yards. Sutton can leave a good final taste in scout's mouths by tearing up a weak LA Tech secondary.

Gasparilla Bowl, Dec 21st @ 8PM, FIU vs Temple
Prospect Matchup: FIU WR Thomas Owens vs Temple DBs Sean Chandler and Delvon Randle
Thomas Owens is a 1st team All-Conference USA player who grabbed 59 balls for 887 yards and 6 touchdowns in only 9 games. I really want to see if the Temple defensive back tandem of Sean Chandler and Delvon Randle can shut the senior down. They have a combined six picks on the year and have led a stout Temple defense to their bowl game.

Bahamas Bowl, Dec 22nd @ 12:30PM, UAB vs Ohio 

Quentin Poling

Prospect Matchup: UAB RB Spencer Brown vs Ohio LB Quentin Poling
Spencer Brown is a monster freshman running back at 6' and 230 pounds. He is a bruiser reminiscent of former UNC running back Elijah Hood. He will be going against Quentin Poling, a Senior and Ohio's all-time leading tackler. Poling is smaller at 5'11'' and does have some baggage (arrested for a fight outside of a pizza shop), but his production makes him a sleeper in this class.

Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec 22nd @ 4PM, Central Michigan vs. Wyoming
Prospect Matchup: Central Michigan QB Shane Morris vs Wyoming QB Josh Allen
Josh Allen (somehow) still has people talking about him in the top ten, but actually preforming well in a big game might actually convince us skeptics that he might deserve such talk (it won't happen but whatever). Central Michigan QB Shane Morris is a Michigan transfer who I wrote about earlier could be a sleeper pick due to his impressive tools. I am anxious to see whether or not he outplays Josh Allen.

Birmingham Bowl, Dec 23rd @ 12PM, Texas Tech vs USF
Prospect Matchup: Texas Tech Quarterback Nic Shimonek vs USF QB Quinton Flowers
Expect points, points, and more points in this matchup. Nic Shimonek is a pocket passer with great arm talent and production, while Quinton Flowers would be the most electric QB in this class if it weren't for Lamar Jackson. Expect this to be an exciting, high-scoring duel.

Armed Forces Bowl, Dec 23rd @ 3:30PM, San Diego State vs Army
Prospect Matchup: San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny vs Army QB/RB Ahmad Bradshaw
If Texas Tech vs USF was the ultimate passing extravaganza, then San Diego State vs Army will be the ultimate rushing extravaganza. Rashaad Penny is the leading rusher in college football, and he will be trying to outrun Ahmad Bradshaw, who has the 5th most yards in the country.

Dollar General Bowl, Dec 23rd @ 7PM, Appalachain State vs Toledo
Prospect Matchup: Appalachian State RB Jalin Moore vs Toledo EDGE Olasunkanmi Adeniyi
This game pits two small-school stud juniors against each other, Jalin Moore has been banged up this season, but he still has 912 yards rushing with 9 touchdowns (5.7 YPC). Adeniyi has enjoyed a great season for Toledo, racking up 19.5 tackles for loss from his defensive end position. These two are unlikely to declare this year, but they are already 2019 sleepers.

Ed Oliver

Hawai'i Bowl, Dec 24th @ 8:30 PM, Fresno State vs Houston
Prospect Matchup: Fresno State C Aaron Mitchell vs Houston DL Ed Oliver
I will take any excuse to watch future 2019 top-5 pick Ed Oliver. He is an athletic freak who has dominated his competition. Aaron Mitchell was a 2nd Team all Mountain West selection this past season (his senior season), so it will be interesting to see whether Oliver man-handles him or not.

Heart of Dallas Bowl, Dec 26th @ 1:30PM, Utah vs West Virginia Prospect Matchup: CB Julian Blackmon vs West Virginia's Wide Receivers
Julian Blackmon is only a sophomore, but 2nd team all PAC-12 selection has been good all season. Whether or not he can cover the likes of David Sills, Gary Jennings, and Ka'Raun White will significantly effect his stock going into 2018.

Quick Lane Bowl, Dec 26th @ 5:15PM, Duke vs NIU
Prospect Matchup: Duke QB Daniel Jones vs NIU CB Shawun Lurry
Daniel Jones is only a sophomore, but his name keeps flying around as a guy to look closely at in the future. He has good tools, but his Achilles' heel is taking care of the ball (12 TDs to 11 picks this past season). Shawun Lurry is the type of corner who feasts off of reckless quarterbacks (14 career picks), so this will be a great test for Jones.

Cactus Bowl, Dec 26th @ 9:00PM, UCLA vs Kansas State
Prospect Matchup: UCLA QB Josh Rosen vs Kansas State CB D.J. Reed
Josh Rosen is probably the top quarterback on most draft boards, including my own. While this bowl game will not make-or-break his current draft stock, It will be a good test.  D.J. Reed was the best corner in the BIG-12 this season, racking up 4 interceptions. If Rosen exposes Reed, expect his stock to climb even higher.

Independence Bowl, Dec 27th @ 1:30PM, Southern Miss vs Florida State
Prospect Matchup: Southern Miss RB Ito Smith vs  the Florida State Front-7
With 5864 career-all purpose yards and 49 all-purpose touchdowns, Ito Smith shouldn't have much to prove. However, his name isn't really being talked about by the draft community, and a big game against a talented Florida State front seven that includes Derrick Nnadi and Matthew Thomas could really help.

A.J. Dillon

New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec 27th @ 5:15PM, Iowa vs Boston College
Prospect Matchup: Iowa LB Josey Jewell vs Boston College RB A.J. Dillon
A.J. Dillon balled out in his true freshman season, racking up 1432 yards and 13 touchdowns. Going against him will be All-American linebacker Josey Jewell, who will have his hands full with the 240 back.

Foster Farms Bowl, Dec 27th @ 8:30PM, Arizona vs Purdue
Prospect Matchup: Arizona QB Khalil Tate vs Purdue LB Markus Bailey
Khalil Tate has been sensational this season, looking like Lamar Jackson's clone at times. He will be lining up across from Purdue LB Markus Bailey, who racked up 78 tackles and 7 sacks this season. This will be a great game to watch for those looking ahead to 2019.

Texas Bowl, Dec 27th @ 9:00PM, Texas vs Missouri
Prospect Matchup: Texas QB Shane Buechele/Sam Ehlinger vs Missouri QB Drew Lock
With many of Texas' best defenders skipping the bowl game (DeShon Elliot, Malik Jefferson, Holton Hill), expect this game to be a shootout. 2019 draft prospect Drew Lock has an amazing set of tools and fully expect him to carve up this weakened Texas defense. Meanwhile, either sophomore Shane Buechele or freshman Sam Ehlinger will try to keep up for the Longhorns. Both are talented quarterbacks who might be hot names in the 2019 and 2020 drafts.

Military Bowl, Dec 28th @ 1:30PM, Virginia vs Navy
Prospect Matchup: UVA S Quin Blanding and LB Micah Kiser vs Navy QB Zach Abey
Navy runs that old-score triple-option offense, so Virginia's defense must be ready for runners like Zach Abey and Malcolm Perry. This will be a good test for seniors Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding, two of the best run stuffers in the nation.

Camping World Bowl, Dec 28th @ 5:15 PM, Virginia Tech vs Navy
Prospect Matchup: VT CBs Adonis Alexander, Brandon Facyson, and Greg Stroman vs Oklahoma State WRs James Washington, Marcell Ateman, and Jalen McClesky
This is the ultimate test for both for Virginia Tech and for Oklahoma State. My Hokies thrive when their defense is flustering opponents and forcing turnovers, while the Cowboys are at their best attacking vertically down the field. All three of Virginia Tech's starting corners and all three of Oklahoma State's wide receivers should be drafted, so watching how each performs will be an absolute treat.

Hercules Mata'afa

Holiday Bowl, Dec 28th @ 9:00PM, Washington State vs Michigan State
Prospect Matchup: Washington State DL Hercules Mata'afa vs Michigan State C Brian Allen
Michigan State's Brian Allen is a 4 year player and was top topped ranked center in the Big 10 according to PFF, but his performance against the feared Hercules Mata'afa could significantly impact his draft stock. Mata'afa is undersized for a defensive tackle, but he still racked up 8.5 sacks and 21.5 TFLs this season.

Alamo Bowl, Dec 28th @ 9PM, Stanford vs TCU
Prospect Matchup: TCU EDGEs Ben Banogu and Mat Boesen vs Stanford's O-Line
Stanford always has a great offensive line, and this year is no exception, especially with freshman standout Walker Little earning a starting gig. However, they will definitely have their hands full with TCU's EDGE duo of Ban Banogu and Mat Boesen, who combined for 20 sacks in 2017 and are draft sleepers.

Belk Bowl, Dec 29th @ 1PM, Wake Forest vs Texas A&M
Prospect Matchup: Wake Forest EDGE Duke Ejiofor vs Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams
Trayveon Williams has been a stud since he set foot in College Station, gaining 1790 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground over his first two seasons. This will be a great test for Wake Forest EDGE Duke Ejiofor, one of the best run defenders in the nation.

Sun Bowl, Dec 29th @ 3PM, NC State vs Arizona State
Prospect Matchup: Arizona State LBs D.J. Calhoun and Christian Sam vs NC State RB Nyheim Hynes and Offensive Weapon Jaylen Samuels
I know Arizona State's defense mostly sucks, but D.J. Calhoun and Christian Sam are the exceptions. The hard-hitting linebacker duo racked up 221 total tackles this season, 19.5 of them for loss. Matched up across from them are Nyheim Hynes and Jalyen Samuels, two fellow sleepers who could use big bowl games to improve their stock.

Music City Bowl, Dec 29th @ 4:30PM, Kentucky vs Northwestern
Prospect Matchup: Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson vs Kentucky S Mike Edwards
Clayton Thorson is yet another toolsy quarterback who just needs to be more consistent. On paper, a weak Kentucky defense should be a great way to raise his stock and gain momentum going into the offseason, but Mike Edwards might stand in his way. Edwards was quietly one of the best safeties in College Football this past season (89 tackles, 4 picks), so don't be surprised if he terrorizes Thorson.

Jalen Davis

Arizona Bowl, Dec 29th @ 5:30 PM, Utah State vs New Mexico State
Prospect Matchup: Utah State CB Jalen Davis vs New Mexico State WR Jaleel Scott

Jalen Davis is a playmaker at the corner spot, snagging 5 picks this year and returning 3 of them for touchdowns. At only 5'10'' however, he is going to have a massive test against 6'6'' Jaleel Scott. If Jalen Davis can hang with Scott in the air, then expect his name to rocket up boards.

Cotton Bowl, Dec 29th @ 8:30 PM, Ohio State vs USC
Prospect Matchup: Ohio State CB Denzel Ward vs USC WR Deontay Burnett
Denzel Ward looks like a first round lock at this point thanks to his aggression and ball skills, but Deontay Burnett will still give him a challenge. Burnett is a great route runner with clamps for hands, so watching him fight for balls against Ward will be a treat.

Taxslayer Bowl, Dec 30th @ 12 PM, Louisville vs Mississippi State
Prospect Matchup: Louisville QB Lamar Jackson vs Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat
Because of Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald's season ending against Ole Miss a few weeks ago, this game should be an easy win for Louisville. However, it will be fun to watch breakout star Montez Sweat (9.5 sacks in 2017) try to corral the ultra-athletic Lamar Jackson.

Liberty Bowl, Dec 30th @ 12:30 PM, Iowa State vs Memphis
Prospect Matchup: Iowa State CB Brian Peavy vs Memphis WR Anthony Miller
Due to their size, Brian Peavy and Anthony Miller will likely play in the slot at their respective positions at the next level, but that doesn't mean they aren't great players. A big performance from either player, especially Peavy, will see a boost in their draft stock.

Fiesta Bowl, Dec 30th @ 4 PM, Washington vs Penn State
Prospect Matchup: Washington DL Vita Vea and LB Keishawn Bierria vs Penn State RB Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley is an athletic, do-it-all freak, but Washington is one of the few teams in the country that may be able to stop such a player. With Vita Vea filling gaps up front and Keishawn Bierria running sideline to sideline, Barkley is going to have a hell of a time finding any room against this defense.

T.J. Edwards

Orange Bowl, Dec 30th @ 8 PM, Wisconsin vs Miami
Prospect Matchup: Wisconsin LB T.J. Edwards vs Miami RB Travis Homer
Mark Walton was the Hurricanes best offensive player for the first half of the season, but after going down with injury, somebody had to step up and fill his shoes. Sophomore Travis Homer has so far, rushing for 907 yards and 7 touchdowns in Walton's absence. It will be fun to see if he can find similar success against the Wisconsin defense, led by star linebacker T.J. Edwards.

Outback Bowl, January 1st @ 12 PM, Michigan vs South Carolina
Prospect Matchup: Michigan LB Devin Bush vs South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst
With linebacker Ben Gedeon leaving for the NFL, sophomore Devin Bush stepped in to lead the Wolverines in tackles. In this matchup, however, it will be his coverage skills that will be tested the most against Hayden Hurst, a great athlete who already declared for the draft.

Peach Bowl, January 1st @ 12:30 PM, UCF vs Auburn
Prospect Matchup: UCF EDGE Shaquem Griffin vs Aubrun QB Jarrett Stidham
Shaquem Griffin is one of the most badass players in college football due to the fact that he plays the EDGE position with one hand. He will be tasked with putting pressure on Jarrett Stidham, who will need to ball out against this fast defense in order to win.

Citrus Bowl, January 1st @ 1 PM, LSU vs Notre Dame
Prospect Matchup: LSU EDGE Arden Key vs Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey
Arden Key hasn't had a great year due to a weight gain and lingering injury issues, with a month of recovery time, hopefully he will be good to go against Mike McGlinchey, who has had issues with faster rushers this year. This might have the biggest impact of the player's stock than any other matchup on this list.

Rose Bowl Game, January 1st @ 5 PM, Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Prospect Matchup: Georgia Defense vs Oklahoma Offense
This game is loaded with prospects and different matchups. Roquan Smith is going to have to cover tight end Mark Andrews and fullback Dimitri Flowers while also containing Baker Mayfield, while tackle Orlando Brown is going to have to deal with Lorenzo Carter and David Bellamy off the edge. This will be a great test for many prospects and should have a big impact on their stock.

Sugar Bowl: January 1st @ 8:30 PM, Clemson vs Alabama
Prospect Matchup: Clemson D-Line vs Alabama O-Line

Dexter Lawrence

If you are gonna beat Alabama, you have to win in the trenches. Clemson is one of the few times that might be able to, and watching their defensive line of Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence go against the Alabama offensive line (Jonah Williams, Ross Piershbacher, Bradly Bozeman) will be a scouting treat.

P.S. Sorry for not posting for awhile and for this article being late. Exam season hit like a brick wall, but I made it through. Winter break is in a few days, so hopefully I can put out some more content for y'all. Have a great day!

Follow 4 Down Scouting on twitter @4DownScouting

All statistics come from ESPN stats on ESPN.com expect for TFLs, which come from sports-reference.com

Trade Grades: Who Won and Who Lost at the Deadline

Written by Christian Lysek

The NFL is the completely different from the NBA, and perhaps nowhere is this more evident than at the trade deadline. In the NBA, superstars are dealt every year for a king's ransom of players and draft picks, while in the NFL the trade deadline usually consists of one big trade and a handful of backup player for 7th round pick trades. This year, however, has proven to be the exception. Big names were sent packing to new homes, and some teams completely rewrote their plans for the future, for better or for worse. With that being said, let's take a glimpse at all of the trades that happened over that past week.

Los Angeles Chargers trade WR Dontrelle Inman to the Chicago Bears for a conditional 2018 7th round pick
Dontrelle Inman did an admiral job filling in for Keenan Allen and several other Chargers receivers last season, racking up 58 catches for 810 yards and 4 touchdowns. Now that Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are back and healthy, there was not much room for Inman on the roster, as evidenced by his 2 catches for 9 yards on the season. The Bears boast arguably the worst receiving corps in the league, which does not bode well for franchise-savior Mitch Trubisky. Adding a big bodied target with experience can only help the young quarterback's development. The Bears got Inman for a very cheap price, due to his lack of production in 2017 and groin injury that has held him out of play since week 5. I would to have liked to see the Chargers trade Inman earlier in the season, just because they could've netted a better pick for him based solely off of last year's production if his injury and lack of playing time hadn't lowered his value. Also, the Chargers are still cursed when it comes to injuries, so keeping Inman around as insurance would not have been a bad thing.
Chargers Grade: B-
Bears Grade: A

Buffalo Bills trade DL Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2018 6th round pick
Much like Sheldon Richardson leaving the Jets, Marcell Dareus leaving the Bills was inevitable. The Bills were fed up over his effort and antics, and to get any compensation from a player you don't want is good, especially when considering that the sixth round pick can turn to a 5th round pick depending on Dareus' production. The Jaguars, however, won this trade. Doug Marrone coached the Bills from 2013-2014, and in that time span Dareus pilled up 17.5 sacks, two Pro-Bowls, and one All-Pro nod. A defensive line with Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., and Yannick Ngakoue was already the league's best, adding Dareus just widens the gap between the Jags and the rest of the league, as long as he keep his head on straight.
Bills Grade: B+
Jaguars Grade: A

Houston Texans trade OT Duane Brown and a 2018 5th round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2019 second round pick and a 2018 third round pick (originally CB Jeremy Lane)
It only took four seasons of Russell Wilson being sacked 40+ times for the Seahawks to realize that they need proven NFL talent protecting Wilson. Duane Brown is a 3x Pro Bowler who will instantly upgrade the woeful Seattle Seahawks offensive line. The issue is that he is 32 years old, injury prone, and coming off a long contract holdout. He is a quick fix, but I feel as though the Seahawks paid a bit much for a tackle with more than a few red flags. As for the Texans, Brown was probably as good as gone for them, so getting such good compensation for an older player that frankly they might not need because Deshaun Watson is amazing can count as a win. It would've been nice to get Jeremy Lane and strengthen the corner position, but they got a nice return for Brown.
Texans Grade: B
Seahawks: A-

New England Patriots trade QB Jimmy Garropolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2018 2nd round pick
Kyle Shanahan has his quarterback. Jimmy Garropolo is a great fit for Shanahan's offense, as it works best with decisive and accurate quarterbacks. Garrapolo only has two starts, but in those two starts he threw for 496 yards and 4 touchdowns while completing 70.95% of his passes. A second round pick is a pretty cheap price for a young player putting up those kinds of numbers. This deal works out nicely for the Patriots too, but only if Tom Brady stays healthy and plays well going into his 40s, which would be unprecedented. If he does get hurt, newly signed Brian Hoyer is far from Jimmy Garropolo and the Patriots are toast. At least the second round pick will probably within the top-35, which will help the Patriots rebuild their poor defense or get a new quarterback of the future.
Patriots Grade: C+
49ers Grade: A+

Miami Dolphins trade RB Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2018 4th round pick
When the best team in the NFL gets stronger, the rest of the NFL starts to sweat. The Philadelphia Eagles adding a Pro-Bowl running back in his prime is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the NFL. Jay Ajayi is a beast who ran for 1,272 yards and 8 TDs last season, and pairing him with LeGarrette Blount gives the Eagles two bulldozers to work with. Plus Jay Ajayi is only 24 years old and still has 1.5 years on his rookie deal. Which leads me question why on Earth the Dolphins made this trade. I know supposedly Ajayi is a "locker room problem" to Adam Gase, but how are we supposed to believe that. I simply don't buy that in a locker room with Ndamakung Suh and Jay Cutler that Jay Ajayi somehow is the one with a personality problem. Gaining only a 4th round pick for Ajayi is also a terrible value. How did they not get a Day 2 pick for a 24 year old Pro-Bowler? This move, of course, also weakens one of the league's worst offenses, leaving them with Damien Williams and Kenyon Drake to split carries. The Dolphins just befuddle me.
Eagles Grade: A+
Dolphins grade: D

San Francisco 49ers trade CB Rashard Robinson to the New York Jets for a 2018 5th round pick
Rashard Robinson is a second year corner with all of the talent in the world and zero idea how to use it. He was a Chip Kelly draft pick who has shown flashes (1 pick, 1 forced fumble, 7 pass deflections), but lacks consistency, especially when it comes to penalties (10 this season). The Jets desperately need corner depth with Morris Claiborne and Buster Skrine expected to miss time. Adding Robinson also gives them a possible star corner for the future if the coaching staff can iron out his inconsistencies. This was a decent trade for both sides.
49ers Grade: B-
Jets Grade: B

Carolina Panthers trade WR Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills for a 2018 third and 2018 7th round draft pick. 
I'm not sure what the Panthers are doing right now. They are sitting at 5-3, in prime position to either win the division or grab a wild card spot, and they trade away their best wide receiver for draft picks. Why? Devin Funchess has only shown flashes of the dominance he was supposed to have coming into the league, Greg Olsen is still hurt, and Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel are running backs. The Panther's offense somehow got even more confusing. The Bills, however, are trying to capitalize on their unexpectedly hot start by grabbing a young, proven talent like Benjamin. Benjamin gives Tyrod Taylor a big weapon to target and a red zone threat.
Bills grade: B+
Panthers Grade: C-

The Cleveland Browns fail spectacular to trade a 2nd and 3rd round pick for Cincinnati Bengal's QB AJ McCarron.
Can the Browns get any worse? Sending a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for AJ McCarron isn't a good move in the first place, but failing to complete the trade because you celebrated too early and forgot to approve it with the NFL is something I expect from an episode of The Office, not a professional NFL team. The Browns just need to quit.
Browns Grade: Flunked Out