We are a mere two months from the NFL Draft taking place so you can expect the mock drafts to be flying in any day now. I wanted to start early, however, by publishing my top 75 prospects for April’s draft. Along with watching college football throughout the season, I’ve been hitting the tape especially hard over the past two months for the top prospects who declared. Before we dive into the rankings, let me first tell you about four prospects I’m especially high on compared to other NFL Draft analysts.
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Javon Kinlaw (DT – South Carolina): #5 overall, #1 DT
You’ve probably been hearing about this name flying up analyst’s boards the past few weeks. When I noticed it happening I just shrugged and said, “Yeah, well, it’s about time.” The kid is everything you’d possibly look for in a young defensive tackle. At 6’5″, 315 pounds, Kinlaw has elite burst, all the length in the world, he is quick, plays angry but controlled, and has an unbelievable motor. You can expect him to shred up the combine and continue to move from a mid/late first-round pick to a near-lock to be selected within the top 15. Derrick Brown will likely be the first defensive tackle off the board, but if he goes in the top 6, it is possible that Kinlaw could land with Carolina at #7 or Jacksonville at #9 but Indianapolis and Tampa at #13 and #14 are the most likely landing spots for this potential All-Pro defensive tackle.
Tyler Biadasz (IOL – Wisconsin): #19 overall, #1 IOL
I rarely give an interior offensive lineman a first round draft grade so for Biadasz to be ranked within my top 20, in what is clearly one of the best classes in the decade, says a great deal. Yes, he has some areas for improvement but each of them are in easily fixable spots, especially for someone with the intangibles Biadasz is overflowing with. He’ll need to improve his footwork and balance but his football IQ is off the charts and he has an intense work ethic. Most importantly, we are talking about the ultimate bully here. Biadasz is as nasty as you’ll find in this draft class which plays well with his great power in the running game. Biadasz is durable as well and has been an excellent pass protector for Wisconsin through the years. Although many have a second or even third round draft grade on Biadasz, I’m expecting someone in the back half of the first round, perhaps Tennesee, to pull the trigger on this coach’s dream.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – Michigan): #32 overall, #7 WR
I mentioned that this draft class is strong and deep but by far the best position in the class is wide receiver. In fact, DVP would have been my #1 wideout in last year’s class if you could just take his profile and transfer it to this time last season. No, he was not especially productive in a lackluster Michigan offense (hello, D.K. Metcalf doubters) but this kid’s tape absolutely glows at times. This is the one position where I first look for what a player can accomplish rather than what he is. Yes, there are lapses in his film, but beyond Jerry Jeudy, he is neck and neck with CeeDee Lamb as having the most potential at the position. It should come as no surprise that he was the top wide receiver recruit in his high school class and I’m expecting NFL teams to fall in love with his all-business demeanor and tremendous playmaking ability. A team like Green Bay might buy into him at pick 30, but he is more likely a 2nd rounder with a team like the Colts at #44 or Jets at #48.
Anthony McFarland Jr. (RB – Maryland): #54 overall, #5 RB
Speaking of former 5-star recruits, McFarland only trailed DeAndre Swift as the nation’s #2 high school running back. McFarland will likely weigh in right around 200 pounds so he’ll never be that short-yardage back and he struggles mightily in pass protection, but Phillip Lindsay is even smaller and let’s not pretend a narrow but springy running back can’t succeed in the NFL. Unlike many of the prospects at his position, he doesn’t have many miles on his legs and could be the classic mid-round back to fall into a starting job eventually after a starter’s injury and never look back. The kid accelerates as well as anyone in the class and is a long-touchdown waiting to happen whether on a cutback or a screen pass out of the backfield. Had he played for a power school and behind one of those great offensive lines, I expect everyone would know his name by now.
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