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Home , DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Yards after catch

NFL DRAFT | APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 1 RANKING Trevor Trey OFFENSIVE Lawrence Lance THREATS Top options available at QB, WR and RB

EDDIE BROWN | The San Diego Union-Tribune‌ elcome to draft season. Here’s a look at the top options at , running back and in the leadup to the draft ‌WApril 29 through May 1. QUARTERBACK‌ RUNNING BACK‌ 1. (Jr., Clemson, 6 foot 5, 213 pounds): 1. (Sr., Clemson, 5-10, 215): Etienne is a highly productive freshman season to prove his dyna- Lawrence checks every box — physical and mental — as three-time All-American who is one of only six players mism and versatility. He had five offensive plays of 60- a generational talent. He went 86-4 in seven seasons as in FBS history to have at least 70 career rushing touch- plus yards in 2019 and is a threat lined up in the slot or out a starting quarterback in high school and college, with downs. You’re not going to catch him if he beats you to wide. He wasn’t asked to block much though. Projected: his four losses coming in the playoffs.Projected: First the perimeter. He has developed into a weapon out of Second or third round overall the backfield, but he still needs to improve his blocking. 5. Michael Carter (Sr., North Carolina, 5-7, 201): Carter 2. (So., North Dakota St., 6-3, 224): Size, ath- Projected: First or second round wins with patience and excellent vision. He’s slightly un- leticism and arm strength remind me of Steve McNair. 2. (Sr., Alabama, 6-1, 232): Harris improved dersized and is more quick than fast, but he’s an asset as a His poise and pocket presence are advanced for someone every season in Tuscaloosa and was the No. 1 running receiver. His awareness in pass protection is impressive. with only 17 career starts and zero experience facing FBS- back recruit in the nation when he got there. He lacks Projected: Second to fourth round level competition. Projected: Top 10 home run juice, but he’s a three- stud with depend- 6. Trey Sermon (Sr., Ohio St., 6-0, 215): Sermon’s 3. (Jr., BYU, 6-2, 214): He’s the youngest quar- able hands and upside in pass protection. Projected: above-average vision and agility was on display during terback to ever start for the Cougars, and his elite arm tal- First or second round the Buckeyes’ playoff run. He only has two career ent enables him to thrive in off-platform situations. His 3. Javonte Williams (Jr., North Carolina, 5-9, 212): Wil- and none since 2018. There are durability concerns: he improvisational skills are Saturday Night Live-worthy. liams wields the hammer of Thor in his stiff-arm — he cracked a vertebrae just above his tailbone (2015), tore There are durability concerns due to a slight frame and past led the FBS in broken tackles (47) and first-down carries the LCL in his left knee (2019) and dislocated the SC joint injuries (labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder and a in his left shoulder on the first play of the national title broken right thumb). Projected: Top three (72) in 2020. He was a linebacker-turned-running back as a senior in high school, so there’s still room to develop. game against Alabama (January). Projected: Third or 4. (Jr., Ohio St., 6-2, 227): Fields features Projected: Second round fourth round elite athleticism, arm talent and leadership qualities. The 7. Chuba Hubbard (Jr., Oklahoma St., 6-0, 210): This toughness he exhibited against Clemson during the 2021 4. (So., Memphis, 5-8, 201): Gainwell Canadian native was a highly decorated sprinter in high Sugar Bowl was impressive. He has a tendency to stare is a one-year starter due to opting out of the 2020 season school and had a historically good sophomore season in down targets, which can get him in trouble when he’s after four members of his family died from COVID-19- Stillwater. He’s gone if you give him daylight. He oth- under duress. Projected: Top 10 related issues. There’s more than enough tape from his erwise isn’t all that elusive, and he fumbled 11 times in 5. (Jr., Alabama, 6-2, 217): Jones has adequate college. Projected: Third to fifth round arm strength, but it’s his accuracy where he sets himself Najee apart in this class — he set a NCAA -season record Harris 8. Khalil Herbert (Sr., Virginia Tech, 5-8, 210): Almost for completion percentage (77.4%). How much of his suc- 57% of Herbert’s 1,182 yards rushing came after con- cess was due to a near-perfect situation in Tuscaloosa? tact in 2020. He had 500 touches in his collegiate career Projected: First round and fumbled once. He’s an inexperienced receiver and blocker. Projected: Fourth to sixth round 6. Davis Mills (Jr., Stanford, 6-3, 217): Mills’ arm talent is as impressive as BYU’s Wilson, but he only had 11 career 9. Rhamondre Stevenson (Sr., Oklahoma, 5-11, 231): Ste- starts for the Cardinal and there are durability concerns. venson is a big athlete with only 193 touches at the FBS Projected: Second to fourth round level, so there’s plenty of tread left on the tires. Pro- jected: Fourth or fifth round 7. Kellen Mond (Sr., Texas A&M, 6-2, 211): Mond is the third SEC quarterback to produce 9,000 yards passing and 1,000 10. Jaret Patterson (Jr., Buffalo, 5-6, 195): Patterson yards rushing in a career ( and Dak Prescott were doesn’t have the ideal size or speed of an early down the others). Projected: Third or fourth round option, but his legs never stop churning and he exhibits elite balance/footwork. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry 8. Sam Ehlinger (Sr., Texas, 6-1, 220): Ehlinger is a four- after contact in 2020. Projected: Fourth to sixth round year starter with dual-threat ability. His decision-mak- ing and anticipation will need to be coached up in the Bonus 1. Jermar Jefferson (Jr., Oregon St., 5-10, 206): NFL. Projected: Fifth to seventh round Travis Jefferson was a highly productive player — top five in 9. (Sr., Florida, 6-5, 236): Trask had a pro- Etienne school history in rushing yards (2,923), rushing touch- lific senior season — he led the FBS with 43 downs (27) and 100-yard rushing games (15) — with a passes — but almost half of his 4,283 yards came after the penchant for breaking off big plays (he had runs of 65, catch. He’s a statue in the pocket, and his inconsistent 75 and 82 yards in 2020). He needs to improve his mechanics could make that a detriment to his potential security and technique in pass protection. Projected: at the next level. Projected: Second or third round Fourth or fifth round 10. Jamie Newman (Sr., Georgia, 6-2, 234): Newman has Bonus 2. Kylin Hill (Sr., Mississippi St., 5-10, 214): Hill all the physical traits scouts look for and was productive is an aggressive, powerful runner who had a productive as a starter for Wake Forest in 2019 (he opted out last sea- career in the SEC. He finished with 471 straight touches son due to COVID-19). Projected: Fifth to seventh round without a . Projected: Fourth to seventh round Bonus. Feleipe Franks (Sr., Arkansas, 6-6, 234): Franks Bonus 3. Javian Hawkins (So., Louisville, 5-8, 183): Hawk- features elite arm strength and capable mobility within ins is an elusive playmaker — he had three runs of 70-plus the pocket considering his size. He needs to develop con- yards in 2020 — who could carve out a change-of-pace sistency to have a shot in the NFL. Projected: Seventh role in the NFL. Projected: Fourth to sixth round round or UFA ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

WIDE RECEIVER‌

1. Ja’Marr Chase (Jr., LSU, 6-0, 201): Ja’Marr DeVonta Bonus 5. Tutu Atwell (Jr., Louisville, 5-8, Chase had a historic sophomore season Chase Smith 155): Atwell obviously is undersized and (1,783 yards and 20 ) before he drops too many balls, but you can’t opting out last season due to COVID-19. teach his type of speed. Only Alabama’s He dominates jump balls, breaks tackles DeVonta Smith had more yards after catch and showcases elite toughness for a re- in 2019. Projected: Third or fourth round ceiver. Projected: Top 10 Bonus 6. Cade Johnson (Sr., South Da- 2. DeVonta Smith (Sr., Alabama, 6-0, 170): kota St., 5-10, 184): Johnson is a former Smith glides across the field like Fred walk-on with decent quicks who was Astaire on wet pavement and took Wite- super productive for the Jackrabbits — Out to Chase’s single-season conference he had 139 receptions, 2,554 yards and records during his Heisman campaign. 25 touchdowns his last two seasons. The The only critique is he’s slightly bigger only real question mark is his lack of ex- than a Micro Machine. Projected: Top 15 perience against top competition. Pro- 3. (Jr., Alabama, 5-9, 180): jected: Fourth to seventh round Waddle is a special athlete and elite play- Bonus 7. Semi Fehoko (So., Stanford, 6-3, maker whose mere presence puts pres- and he’s still underdeveloped as a route second round sure on a defense. He’s capable of being runner, but he was Indiana’s Mr. Track 222): Fehoko features elite size/speed Bonus 1. Amon-Ra St. Brown (Jr., South- a dynamic return man as well, but that’s and Field as a senior in high school. He’s combination and specializes in difficult ern Cal, 5-11, 197): St. Brown doesn’t how he broke his right ankle last season. catches, but he’s still very raw despite a proven playmaker who is tough as nails feature top-end speed, but his balance, Projected: Top 15 turning 24 in 2021. He committed to a (he also played cornerback and lined up as route running and physicality remind me a gunner on coverage for the Bron- two-year religious mission before attend- 4. (Jr., Mississippi, 5-9, 178): of Steve Smith Sr. Projected: Second or ing school. Projected: Third to fifth round Moore is a three-year starter who is ex- cos). Projected: Second or third round third round plosive in the open field and thrives on Bonus 8. Frank Darby (Sr., Arizona St., 8. (Sr., Florida, 5-11, 193): Bonus 2. Amari Rodgers (Sr., Clemson, slants, screens and jet sweeps. He only 6-0, 201): Darby’s career production was This former high school quarterback is a 5-9, 212): Rodgers is physical after the had one drop on 101 targets in 2020. Pro- mediocre, but he can make plays at every dangerous playmaker outside, in the slot catch, similar to Deebo Samuel. He spent jected: First or second round level and has some of the best ball skills or in the backfield. Multiple off-field in- the last three seasons as the Tigers’ fea- in this class. He was a team captain his 5. (Jr., Minnesota, cidents and durability concerns could tured punt returner. Projected: Second senior season and is a bona fide leader 6-0, 190): Bateman is a productive route offset immense talent.Projected: First or third round on and off the field.Projected: Fifth to technician with excellent hands. He was or second round Bonus 3. Nico Collins (Sr., Michigan, seventh round a three-year starter on his high school 9. Tylan Wallace (Sr., Oklahoma St., 5-11, 6-4, 215): Collins features an impres- hoops team and received scholarship 194): Wallace is a dynamic playmaker who sive height/speed combination and isn’t Bonus 9. Anthony Schwartz (Jr., Auburn, offers from several Division I programs. has mastered the route tree. He produced afraid to make plays over the middle of the 6-0, 186): Schwartz is a developmental Projected: First or second round a first down or touchdown on almost 74 field. His production at Ann Arbor was project with world-class speed. He won 6. Terrace Marshall Jr. (Jr., LSU, 6-2, 205): percent of his 205 collegiate receptions. underwhelming considering his talent. the silver medal in the 100 meters (10.22) Marshall is a capable deep threat with He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee Projected: Third round at the IAAF world championships in Fin- prototypical size/speed traits. Almost in 2019. Projected: Second or third round land, taking the gold medal in the 4x100 Bonus 4. Dyami Brown (Jr., North Car- a quarter of his 94 receptions the last relay (38.88) for Team USA. Projected: 10. (So., Purdue, 5-7, 181): olina, 6-0, 189): Brown oozes big-play two seasons were touchdowns (23). He Fourth to seventh round Moore is a powerful creator after the ability — he had five receptions of 50-plus has broken his left foot (2019) and fibula catch, almost running back-like, who yards in 2020 — and has developed into Bonus 10. Seth Williams (Jr., Auburn, (2017). Projected: Second round could thrive in the slot at the next level, an advanced route runner. He needs to 6-3, 211): Williams is a ball-winner who 7. D’Wayne Eskridge (Sr., Western Michi- but he’s unproven as a downfield threat work on his inconsistent hands (15 drops could develop into a productive red zone gan, 5-8, 190): There are durability con- and has missed 11 of 18 games the past two the last two seasons). Projected: Second threat in the NFL. Projected: Third to cerns with Eskridge because of his size, seasons due to injury. Projected: First or or third round fifth round