The NFL Draft is one of the biggest events of the year in all of sports and it happens to be less than a week away. The draft order has changed somewhat since the end of the regular season, with the Los Angeles Rams trading up for the number one overall pick and the Philadelphia Eagles doing the same to get the number two pick.
Many analysts and radio/TV personalities say that California quarterback Jared Goff will go first and North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz will go second. While these two are getting all the attention, there are many other players entering the NFL that can have an impact on any team that they get drafted by.
Here are five players that will excel in the NFL:
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB (Ohio State): Perhaps the best running back available in the draft, Elliott was phenomenal for the Buckeyes the past two seasons. He was a huge factor in last year’s National Championship Game, as he ran for 246 yards and scored four touchdowns, helping Ohio State become national champions. Elliott had back-to-back 1,800 rushing yard seasons and racked up 43 touchdowns in his three years at Ohio State.
Many draft experts, such as Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have Elliott going in the middle of the first round, which is fair. He has the talent to be a top-five pick but running backs seldom go within the first five to ten picks of the draft. Any team that could use a running back, such as the Miami Dolphins, should take a flyer on Elliott.
2. Joey Bosa, DE (Ohio State): Another Ohio State alum, Joey Bosa looks to be the second coming of J.J. Watt, as he is almost impossible to block and can rush the passer as good as any other draft prospect. Bosa did not light up the stat sheet in 2015, but in 2014 he led the Big Ten in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles. A good defensive lineman is not easy to find and Bosa seems like his talent could translate well to the NFL.
Right now, Bosa is projected to go in the first five picks, most likely to the Dallas Cowboys or Jacksonville Jaguars. Either team could use him, as both defenses struggled last season. The Jaguars recently added defensive tackle Malik Jackson, so having him and Bosa on the same line would be a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. However, the Cowboys pick one spot before the Jaguars.
3. Shaq Lawson, DE (Clemson): One reason that Clemson made it to this year’s National Championship game was the fact that their defense shut down Oklahoma in the semifinal game. They rolled to a 37-17 victory in that game, but came up short to Alabama in the championship game. One of their biggest stars on defense last season was defensive end Shaq Lawson, who led the ACC in sacks and tackles for loss this past season.
Lawson, like Bosa is great at rushing the passer and can get into the backfield very quickly. He even had two sacks in the National Championship game against a solid Alabama offensive line. Lawson is projected to be taken in the mid-first round, so maybe a team like the Detroit Lions or Atlanta Falcons will snatch him up before any other team has the chance.
4. Laquon Treadwell, WR (Ole Miss): This year’s draft seems to be lacking wide receiver prospects and one of the best available is Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss. In his three seasons at Ole Miss, he had 2,393 receiving yards and scored 21 touchdowns. His 2014 season was cut short after he broke his leg during against Auburn. Treadwell responded in 2015 with over 1,100 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He is also 6-foot-2, which is a good size for a receiver. Treadwell could be considered a “sleeper” in this draft, as not many people know much about him.
Treadwell is projected to go late in first round meaning teams who need a young receiver, such as the Washington Redskins or Minnesota Vikings, could definitely use a player like him.
5. Robert Nkemdiche, DT (Ole Miss): Nkemdiche may not even go in the first round of the draft this year due to some off the field issues, but has the talent to be considered a first-rounder. He has explosiveness and is a great open field tackler. His stats won’t blow anyone away, as he only had six sacks in his three years at Ole Miss, but some players seem to play better when they reach the NFL and their stats will eventually improve.
Nkemdiche, like his teammate Treadwell is also projected to go in the late-first round. His draft stock went down after it was reported that he fell off of a hotel balcony in December, reportedly high off marijuana. Things like this are usually warning flags for some teams, but it would not hurt to give him another chance. A team like the Green Bay Packers could use a defensive lineman, so we will see on draft day which team selects Nkemdiche.
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