DRAFT TRACKER 2018

Thomas reminds me of Jermaine Gresham when he came out of Oklahoma, not the version you see today. Like Gresham, Thomas has the bend and "man strength" to become a successful in-line blocker if he improves his hand placement and grit. His production is lacking due to shorter two-year run at Indiana and a senior season filled with injuries, but it is easy to see NFL ability that just needs coaching and more experience. Thomas is an ascending combination tight end with an ability to become a good NFL starter who can be flexed around the field.

Highly instinctive linebacker who combines a keen sense of play direction with a feel for the optimal angles to fill up the stat sheet. Scales may lack desired size and speed, but his 36 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over the last two seasons should give an indication of his playmaking ability. Evaluators may hem and haw over where to take him, but he has the football intelligence, motor and skill to continue finding tackles as an eventual NFL starter at inside linebacker or as a 4-3 SAM.

Cobbs' size and body control down the field will be enticing to teams, but he doesn't separate and he lacks general quickness. Cobbs toggles between bad drops and great catches and needs to find more stability as a pass catcher since he'll have to make a living handling contested catch situations. Cobbs may need scheme help to get off the line against big, press corners and looks unlikely to become a heavily targeted receiver as a pro. His 40-yard dash time at the Combine will be crucial for his draft stock.

Fant is a tale of two cornerbacks on the field. He's small but confident and aggressive as a playmaker allowing his instincts, burst, and aggressiveness to thwart the competition across from him. His size isn't optimal, but he's a very good athlete with the tools to handle coverage responsibilities from the slot. As a tackler, he lacks play strength and commitment and teams found success running to his side. Fant's ball skills make him hard to ignore, but his lack of size and strength will limit the number of teams who consider him.

Covington is a better athlete than skilled linebacker at this point in his development, but he has intriguing length, speed and athleticism that could be moldable on the next level. He still needs to get stronger and improve his technique, but he could become a special teams factor on coverage teams if he makes the squad. His ability to play in the league may rest upon whether or not he can improve his instincts and feel for blocking schemes.