Every year the media and fans get excited about the first round of the NFL draft. However, roughly 50 percent of the players picked on opening night are a bust. When evaluating prospects, the upside can be mouth-watering. Unfortunately, those prospects also tend to come with a very low floor. On the other hand, there are a handful of players with a very safe floor and a low chance of busting every year. Which prospects are the safest this year? Here are four first-round prospects teams can feel very confident in drafting.
A few weeks ago, Neal was a slam dunk pick to go first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played left tackle, right tackle, and guard during his time at Alabama. More importantly, he played at a high level regardless of where he lined up on the line. While some mock drafts have Neal sliding into the back half of the top 10 picks, that is unlikely to happen. His size, athleticism, and production at multiple spots make him arguably the safest prospect in the draft. Neal will be a high-end starter in the NFL for the next decade, whether at left or right tackle.
Kyle Hamilton (SAF – Notre Dame)
Many, including myself, believe Hamilton is the best player in the draft class. While his somewhat disappointing 40-yard dash has hurt his stock, Hamilton has one of the safest floors this year. His ability to play multiple positions offers teams plenty of upside and a safe floor. Hamilton can fill a single high safety role, covering the back third of the field with sideline-to-sideline range. He can also play in the slot as a big nickel or in the box as a dime linebacker. Hamilton will have a long and impactful NFL career unless a team tries to play him at defensive tackle.
Ahmad Gardner (CB – Cincinnati)
Shutdown cornerbacks are rare in the NFL. Furthermore, we never see a shutdown cornerback at 6’3″ run a 4.41 40-yard dash with 33.5-inch arms. However, that is exactly who Gardner is. All three measurements rank in the top 79 percentile, with his height and length ranking in the top 96 percentile. Last year the Cincinnati Bearcats had arguably the best defense in college football, in large part because of Gardner. Despite facing some elite wide receivers last season, Gardner didn’t give up a touchdown in 2021. Between his length and movement skills, Gardner can play in either a man or zone-heavy scheme. He will be a lockdown cornerback as a rookie.
Zion Johnson (OL – Boston College)
Johnson is much like Neal. He has experience starting at multiple spots during his college career, including left tackle. While many believe his best position in the NFL is guard, Johnson took snaps at center during the Senior Bowl. More importantly, he was arguably the best offensive lineman that week. Johnson is also one of the more athletic linemen in the draft this year. His vertical jump (32 inches), broad jump (112 inches), three-cone time (7.38 seconds), and 20-yard shuttle (4.46 seconds) all ranked in the 89th percentile or higher. With his ability to play all five spots on the offensive line, Johnson provides versatility and a safe floor. Given both, Johnson could end up getting drafted in the top 15.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
