It’s hard enough to make the NFL when you’ve trained, succeeded and produced at one position from high school through a college career. But for some players, changing positions is a difficult hurdle that some prospects must face in the draft process.
For some players, changing positions may be better for their eventual drafting team to better utilize their high-upside as athletes, such as with Shaq Thompson of Washington or Devin Funchess of Michigan. But for others, changing positions is a must-do for them to continue their NFL dream, and provides another challenge to overcome before they try and make an NFL roster.
Blake Sims, Alabama – QB to RB
After surprisingly beating out Jacob Coker to start the season, Blake Sims lead the Crimson Tide offense in Lane Kiffin’s first year. With great efficiency and poise, he quickly grew with the offense and developed a great report with star receiver Amari Cooper. However, his limitations as a progression passer, struggles with placement on the perimeter, and narrow upside due to size and arm strength restrictions have pushed his draft value back towards his more natural running back position. At 5’11, 218 and running a 4.57 forty time, his mold looks the part of a rotational back. After working out in that role, as well as a returner, at his pro day, it’s time to move him to that position for NFL team’s rankings.
Devin Gardner, Michigan – QB to WR
After getting work at receiver to start his on-field Michigan career, Gardner was put back at his recruited position of quarterback, where he lead Michigan the last two seasons. His lack of development as a pocket passer and decision-maker solidified his once potentially promising hope of playing quarterback in the NFL, but didn’t dismiss his NFL potential. With outside receiver size, clear athleticism and minor experience at the position, the NFL Combine snub still has a chance to stick with an NFL team, albeit likely not as a draft pick.
Devin Funchess, Michigan – TE or WR
As a recruit and up until this past season, Funchess was viewed as a tight end prospect. However, the team chose to move him to receiver, with the reasoning being unclear. At receiver, he was much more easily featured in the offense, being the only legitimate option in the offense, and didn’t have to be an inline blocker as much. However, based on his past years, he’s not a “poor” blocker and shows plus effort. His NFL team won’t want him as a full-time inline blocker, but he can add tight end value if he adds more bulk. He’s a unique mix of Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olson.
Blake Bell, Oklahoma – QB to TE
A once highly-touted quarterback prospect, Bell switched full-time to tight end this year at Oklahoma. While his production wasn’t anything to ride home about (just 16 catches), the 6’6 target caught four touchdowns, impressing evaluators with his upside as a redzone target and developmental tight end. After posting strong NFL Combine numbers, Bell has gone from work-in-progress to very intriguing tight end prospect in a relatively shallow class.
La’El Collins, LSU/Ereck Flowers, Miami (FL) – OT to OG
While I believe both can play offensive tackle at a high level in the NFL and are worth first-round picks in this draft class, Collins and Flowers are both being considered guards by teams. Collins and Flowers both offer great bulk and strength as blockers, but lack ideal lateral quickness and pass protection efficiency. However, they’re such impressive blockers once engaged, and their somewhat ineffectiveness as pass blockers can be further developed and hidden in the NFL. Still, as power blockers with adequate length but lateral quickness limitations, it’ll be interesting to see where teams grade them out, and where they eventual top-40 selecting team hopes for them to play in the NFL.
Cameron Erving, Florida State – OT to OC
Coming into the 2014 college football, Erving was viewed as a solid top-three round offensive tackle prospect with enough promise, despite edge blocking limitations, to emerge as a first-round talent. Struggles early in his senior year dismissed that talk, but a mid-season switch to center changed his entire NFL future. He’s viewed as a near-consensus top center prospect in the draft despite his limited experience there.
Obum Gwachem, Oregon State – WR to DE
Obum Gwachem came to Oregon State as a receiver, staying on the offensive side of the ball until the spring game of his senior season. While he didn’t wildly impress in his only season at defensive end (just four sacks, including two against Hawaii), Gwachem’s flashes in his lone season at defensive end and NFL Combine testing have pushed him from post-draft “camp flier” to potential late round draft pick.
Shaq Thompson, Washington – LB to SS or RB
Fitting to be on this list, Shaq Thompson won the “Paul Hornung” award in 2014 as the nation’s most versatile player. As a senior, he offered playmaking ability at linebacker, both as a rusher and in the open-field, and at running back, with 7.5 yards per carry on 61 rushes. NFL teams are known to view him as an option at running back (likely 2nd-3rd round grade if strictly a running back), versatile linebacker athlete (who compares to Anthony Barr or Alec Ogletree) or potential strong safety (like Kam Chancellor). It’s likely that his first-round value will be at safety, but where he plays in his NFL career will likely be constantly in flux.
Nick Marshall, Auburn – QB to CB
In what was a surprise announcement at the time, Nick Marshall said just before the Senior Bowl practices that he’d be switch positions to cornerback for the 2015 NFL Draft process. Marshall played cornerback at Georgia, but after transferring to Auburn due to off-field issues, he was able to play quarterback. Now, back at cornerback, Marshall’s experience at quarterback likely only helped him for the mental aspect of the position. His athletic enough and has plus size (over 6’0 and 210+) should give him plenty of looks, but his individual workouts with NFL teams will make or break his draft projection.
Eric Rowe, Utah – CB to SAF
Eric Rowe has bounced between positions throughout his college career, playing cornerback, free safety and strong safety. With most of his first three years playing free safety, and at a very high level, the expectation is that Rowe will revert back to his safety position after getting 9 starts at cornerback as a senior. The position change won’t be difficult for the long, athletically controlled Rowe, but his position grade for teams will change between teams, with Cover 2 teams maybe being the best landing spot for the defensive back.
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