There’s nearly no thriller now across the first total participant to be taken within the NFL Draft this yr. Cam Ward goes to be a Tennessee Titan with the primary total choose. That’s fairly protected to say now.
Nonetheless, what about his former Hurricane teammates which are set to be chosen as soon as the NFL Draft will get underway on April 24 from Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin? Who would be the subsequent to come back off the board?
Whereas there are a selection of former Canes who might hear their identify referred to as by the point Spherical 7 has come and gone, there actually are solely 4 gamers I believe have some type of shot to listen to their identify referred to as second. Right here they’re, in growing stage of chance.
4) DE Tyler Baron
I believe Baron is the least possible of the quartet, as draft projections have him going as extra of a mid-draft choose. Nonetheless, surprises occur, and Baron has the bodily instruments – significantly along with his body and energy – to be intriguing to an NFL staff, particularly one on the lookout for a top quality depth piece and an early-down, edge-setting defensive finish/edge prospect. I don’t assume he’ll go earlier than spherical 4, however the draft is nothing, if not unpredictable.
3) RB Damien Martinez
Martinez presents one of many extra fascinating RB prospects within the draft. He’s a load, runs with energy, and flashed good velocity on the Mix, significantly for his dimension (4.51). He additionally impressed mightily on the Senior Bowl earlier than a crowd of scouts.
The issue is that this RB class is totally loaded. As congested a gaggle as I can ever keep in mind seeing. That might hamper his means to get picked within the first two days of the draft, which he probably might in most different years.
2) WR Xavier Restrepo
That is mainly 1B and 1A for me. I used to be about to flip flop them at one level. Restrepo’s take and route working are superior for a university participant, so he gained’t final too lengthy. I believe he will certainly be a day two choose (rounds 2-3). I ponder if a greater 40-yard sprint time may need cemented him into the second spherical although – a 4.80 is unhealthy; there’s no option to spin that. Nonetheless, groups shouldn’t draw back as a result of the soccer velocity on movie is clearly there. However Kam Kinchens fell into the third spherical final yr, partly due to a foul 40 time, so typically groups method overthink it.
1) TE Elijah Arroyo
Arroyo ought to headline among the many prime tight ends obtainable after a breakout 2024 season and a Senior Bowl efficiency that was among the finest amongst any participant at any place. He might find yourself being the third tight finish chosen – each Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are first spherical projections – and will discover himself going off the board as early because the second spherical. Groups need playmakers within the passing recreation on the tight finish place, and Arroyo suits that invoice.