DRAFT TRACKER 2021

Productive outside cornerback with a penchant for making plays on the football. McCain is smart and plays with solid instincts. He lacks the smooth hips and chase speed to hang with NFL vertical targets, which is a major concern. While he's instinctive, his losses to double moves might cause some hesitancy at times. He will struggle to maintain top position against size, but his length does help him out somewhat. His best shot could be on a practice squad of a zone-heavy cover unit.

Highly productive small-school wideout with elite size but with work to be done. Playing against bigger, stronger, faster defenders could create a challenging transition, as the route running and ball skills will need more development to be pro-ready. His size and ability to win jump balls make him an intriguing late-round possibility.

Four-year starter from a school that has produced a steady stream of offensive line prospects over the last few years. With Kraemer starting, Notre Dame's offensive line took home the Joe Moore Award in 2017 and was a finalist in 2020. He possesses an NFL frame with strong hands to help sustain and finish. He's strong and works well with double-teams, but is just average staying centered on athletic opponents. Any time he starts to lose control of the rep in pass protection, his default is to lean and lunge -- but his feet stay behind, causing his balance to give way. He might have the size and ability to hang onto a backup role for a little while, but the waist-bending will be tough to correct and could become too easily exploited in the pros.

Productive runner with good size but lacks the quickness and juice to force defenses to respect the full width of the football field against him. While he's experienced in outside zone, he might be too tight-hipped, lacking the burst necessary as a one-cut runner. He does have the size and vision to bang around inside, but he's not very dynamic or creative and needs it well-blocked in front of him. He might have to step it up in pass protection and as a special teams player to create a spot for himself as a third-down back with value in the kicking game.

Pass-catching tight end who can be asked to do some minor positional blocking up front, but he's better as a move blocker. McKitty's play speed doesn't always match his real speed, which is a problem in terms of his separation and ball tracking. He's better up the seam and on the move than he is getting in and out of breaks. If he can get stronger and learn to play faster as a pass catcher, he might have a chance as a developmental TE3.

If Merrill had the size, frame and length of many others in this draft class, he would be projected as a future starter. As it stands, his draft value will be much more limited due to his height, length and perceived limitations to his game. He's a pure nose with below-average rush, but can be a handful to block as a run defender. His lack of physical traits will pull him off the board for some teams, but he might have a shot to earn a roster spot as a free agent.

Off-and-on starter on the Mississippi State offensive line over the last four seasons. Players with Eiland's size, length and starting experience tend to get longer looks on the offensive line despite below-average movement skills and technique. He shows an ability to win with his traits on occasion, but he will need to play with substantially better body control and hand usage to keep NFL defenders from exploiting him early and often if he makes a team.

The measurables show Dunn is fast and has good length, but he doesn't always play like it. He's an inside/outside cornerback prospect possessing explosive traits but no career interceptions to show for it. Dunn has played outside for most of his career but might be better suited as a slot in the NFL. He's extremely twitchy with the ability to mirror route breaks, but he just doesn't find his way into passing lanes often enough. The intriguing athletic ability is worth a look and could earn him a stay in the league if he can improve his ball production.

Long and slender with hurdler's stride length to eat up space and create separation on post, go and over routes. Dixon's speed and above-the-rim leaping ability can create concerns for cornerbacks matched up against him in man coverage. However, he needs to add more muscle to his frame and improve his hand strength to help alleviate some of his issues with drops. He's average after the catch when working underneath and is better suited in a scheme that allows him to stretch the field. He has late-round talent with the potential to find a practice squad early on if he can crank up his competitive aggression.

Productive linebacker with good feel for blocking schemes and where running backs are eventually headed. While Fields' patience prevents him from making ill-advised advances that would pull him out of position, he will need to balance his patience with a more controlled aggressiveness when it comes to playing ahead of play designs. He has the instincts to take more chances and will most assuredly need to due to his lack of desired size and play strength. Fields' inconsistent tackling and below-average third-down potential could further hurt his chances if he doesn't improve his aggression level against the run.

College tackle with debilitating length and a lack of athleticism in pass protection that will force a move to guard. Van Lanen is more angular and upright than wide and balanced in his play. When he's allowed to come off the ball as a drive blocker, he shows some potential to generate push. And he already has the hand placement to help make a transition to guard a little easier. He's made for power schemes where he can pull, locate and land to help spring the running game. The short arms and narrow power zone will make both block sustains in the run game and mirroring in pass protection a difficult task in the pros, but he has enough working for him to compete for a backup guard spot.

In 2018, made the switch from linebacker to fullback. Despite the truncated season in 2020, Stokke played his most consistent football this past season. There is work to be done in fitting up and sustaining his blocks, but he's decisive and makes proper reads in leading the way for his running back. Stokke has some short-yardage wiggle as a runner and is a capable pass catcher on play-action leak-outs into the flat. There aren't many fullback jobs around the league these days, but Stokke may have a shot to compete for one.

Farniok has three-position flexibility but will likely play guard or center as a pro. He has a long frame with decent proportions and can fit gap and zone schemes. There's room for continued growth as a run blocker but his pass protection is below average. He has a shot to earn a role as a backup interior offensive lineman.

Eubanks possesses in-line tight end size but finesse tight end play traits. He has the speed to attack the seam and create occasional mismatches with linebackers, but will need to play faster and with more snap out of his turns as a route-runner. He can be a little slow to present to the quarterback, which creates challenges for him when throws are put right on top of him. He has both the agility and frame to improve as a contested-catch winner if he can improve his competitiveness. He's more likely to wall off a defender than knock him off the spot as a drive blocker. His size and athleticism could be appealing as a developmental H-back, but he'll need to be better than his 2020 tape to make a roster.

Wide-body punter with extra quick operation time. Harvin was a heralded punter out of high school and seemed to improve throughout his time at Georgia Tech. His quick get-off might need to be slowed to help out his coverage team, though. He has an NFL leg and is consistent as a directional punter, which gives him a shot to be drafted.

Linear speedster with playmaking ability down the field and the potential to help on special teams. Gaither's long strides serve him well when opening up to attack the third level, but they make him too gradual getting in and out of breaks underneath. His go routes and posts can roll downhill on the coverage if he's allowed to get down the field untouched. The inability to create uncertainty as a route runner is an area that will need to be corrected, as he lacks the elite speed and functional physicality to make a living dealing with NFL cornerbacks as purely a deep-ball specialist. He has late-round potential and could find his way onto a practice squad.

Squatty slasher with sudden feet and clear eyes, allowing for quick processing of traffic. Teams will need to go back to the 2019 tape to see a better version of the runner as he tried to do too much by himself in 2020 and lost some of his rhythm because of it. Johnson can be a creative runner, using crisp cuts and unpredictable lane changes. He played with occasional bouts of indecisiveness that need to be eliminated in the pros. Small hands and ball security concerns also tilt the odds against him, but he does have pass-catching talent, even though his production was limited in that area.

What you see is what you get: a back with excellent size who runs with balance and power, but lacks explosiveness to hit the big play. Vision helps him make good lane choices and he's very decisive between the tackles. He runs with bend and stays behind squared pads to absorb and deliver contact. While he can break tackles for additional yards, he's easy to find for linebackers and doesn't have enough flow speed to turn the corner. His bumper-car running style makes him well-suited to be a grinder for a power attack and he has the size and toughness to compete as a blocking back in blitz pickups. He's limited and lacks juice to find chunk gains, but plays physically and could have an outside shot to make a roster.

Safety prospect who played both high and low for Oregon as a one-year starter. There is no doubting his feel and instincts when you watch him play. Breeze plays with a willful demeanor and is fun to watch on special teams. However, he lacks the height/weight/speed components typical of make-it players at his position and teams might not feel comfortable keeping him around as a special-teamer if they don’t trust him to overcome his athletic shortcomings.

"Body beautiful" wide receiver prospect who could struggle under the weight of physical coverage that is tougher and faster than he is. Smith doesn't have the burst, speed or route acumen to consistently create passing windows for his quarterback, but when the ball goes up near the end zone, he plays with good body control and ball skills to haul in the jump balls. Smith lacks the ability to consistently threaten on any of the three levels of the field and is likely to face an uphill battle to make a roster.

Burly workhorse of a runner, averaging almost 22 carries per game since the start of the 2019 season. He's nimble with quick, active feet that pair nicely with his power. His game isn't very rhythmic and he can be a little indecisive when running inside. However, the confidence level rises on stretch plays and when bouncing it out outside. He's best suited for zone rushing attacks, where he can have better control over lane choices. There's not enough third down or special-teams background, but his size, power and surprising foot quickness give him a shot as a late-round or undrafted prospect who might outplay his draft slotting.

Scouts rave about the personal character of Bynum, but concerns over his athletic ability and speed are very real. Despite his time as a press corner, his poor recovery speed and inability to match NFL receivers in man coverage will likely pigeonhole him into a zone-heavy scheme or force him to flip to safety.

Three-year full-time starter and gritty baller on an underrated offensive line in 2020. Green plays with enough athleticism and determination to get the job done but lacks desired NFL-caliber strength. While he has a shot in more zone-heavy blocking schemes, he might always have trouble battling against twitchy defenders and NFL bull rushers on the next level. He's not bad as a run-blocking technician but will default to occasional bad habits in pass protection due to his struggles in playing against strength. Green might lack the pass-pro traits necessary to handle swing tackle duties, which could make low-end backup right tackle his ceiling.

Numerous prospects each year have basketball backgrounds from their high school days, but few have it show up on tape like Angeline does. Keep in mind his blocking demeanor is more basketball player than tight end. He currently lacks the toughness and play strength to sustain blocks at the NFL level. As a pass catcher, he uses his long strides to climb past linebackers and is able to work vertically and across the hashes on intermediate routes. He's athletic catching on the move with soft, sticky hands and uses his basketball footwork when separating near the end zone. He's basically a bigger, taller receiver, but there's talent to consider as a pass-catching option.

Raw but highly productive edge who could be targeted as a designated pass rusher by 3-4 defenses. Garrett's approach was fairly simple at Concordia, as he used his get-off and athletic ability to simply work around less-talented tackles on the Division II level. Even so, he put some major marks in just about every impact category -- and his processing and instincts to find rush counters is something to build upon. He's tight-hipped and plays too tall to bend edges on the next level, so he'll need to fine-tune his hands and his rush plan. His narrow waist and below-average limb thickness might mean he will struggle to hold desired NFL weight on his frame. While he can chase and pursue, he's not strong enough to handle life at the point of attack at this juncture. He's a potential practice-squad candidate early on.

Height/weight/speed prospect with developmental traits, but the fundamentals and feel for the position are way behind. Despite his straight-line speed, Wilcox has long legs paired with average feet, creating awkward, clunky transitions when he's not allowed to just phase the downfield route. His testing could create an opening for a practice-squad role, but the lack of experience, consistency and the history of injuries plant him firmly in the "project" pile.

Likely box safety candidate with an NFL frame whose durability and production are quality check marks in his evaluation. Key is a four-year starter known for his work ethic off the field and the energy he brings to the field. His size, speed and explosiveness numbers will matter to some teams, but it's not always easy to see those attributes translating to the field when it comes to the athleticism needed in coverage and as an open-field tackler. Key is trustworthy around the line of scrimmage and is ready to do his part to stuff the run. With his measurables and potential as a special teams contributor, it would not be a surprise to see him get a shot in the NFL.

Soehner's size is reminiscent of an undersized tackle, but in reality he's an in-line tight end with the type of frame to potentially compete for a future role as a blocking tight end if he can improve his hand usage and core strength. He's a one-speed route runner who can work into the soft spots of the zone as a pass catcher but won't be able to uncover against man. His NFL future will likely depend on how well he can block.

Running back with good size and great vision but a lack of necessary acceleration to get away from tacklers. He doesn't have enough juice to be a standard backup running back but might be seen a "joker" who can handle a variety of duties. If he adds more weight, teams could see him as a four phase special-teamer who can handle occasional lead blocking for outside zone and third down pocket protection duties if needed. He might not be drafted but running back coaches like his makeup and he should be a coveted priority free agent.

One-speed runner relying on size, urgency and toughness to make up for a lack of open-field talent. He can hit the edge and turn the corner on counters and bounce-outs, but gets too impatient to cut runs back. Below-average vision diminishes his ability to get the most out of runs, but his loose lower body makes sharp cuts against the grain a successful weapon for him. He's a tough runner, but lacks creativity and contact balance to stand out against others in this class, despite his traits.

Squatty, short-stepping linebacker who plays with tremendous energy and is always on the attack. Stuard has a twitchy, explosive take-off when he's playing forward, but tight hips restrict his sideline-to-sideline range and his ability to make reactive plays as a tackler in space. He has good straight-line speed and should test well in that department, but his lack of size and inability to play all three downs could force him into a situation where special teams would be his route to a roster.

Four-year starter with NFL size and consistent production as pass rusher. Bailey's rush approach is both skilled and instinctive. He displays natural counters and a variety of approaches to try to create openings into the pocket. He lacks true edge speed or an explosive bull rush, so it will be imperative that he continues to build upon his rush plan moving forward. He's more adept against the run when he's on the move than he is at taking on blocks and winning heads-up battles. His rush production might not be fully transferable into the pros, but he has enough tape to warrant a late-round look as a backup 4-3 end.

Mountain of a tackle with low-cut frame but wears an unusual amount of mass in his upper body. Curhan has way better footwork than expected for a player who weighs close to 330 pounds. He moves well on combo blocks and with some second-level adjustments, but really struggles getting out of his stance and making quick lateral moves. He's not a natural bender, so his poor pad level and inability to latch in with his hands and sustain blocks are liabilities if teams ask him to move to guard. He plays with good energy but can rush his blocks, creating issues with body control and positioning at contact. His inability to consistently mirror active rushers will make it hard to play tackle, but he could garner consideration due to his size.

McKinley overcame a steady string of NFL-caliber depth at his position and an off-field arrest in 2019 to finally flash some potential as a pro prospect. He made a series of big catches for the Irish and was instrumental in their upset win over Clemson in the regular season. He has outstanding size and the frame to box out defenders and shield the catch. He's a little tight-legged, which turns him into a more linear, readable route-runner and he lacks the short-area wiggle to escape easily from press or separate out of breaks. He's an athletically limited downfield threat, so becoming a more physical presence throughout the route will be essential for him in carving out roster space for himself.

Ball-winning power forward with athletic talent to work above the rim and make highlight-reel catches from time to time. Adams' short-area quickness is below average and he's unlikely to threaten pro cornerbacks with his top-end speed. That means they will sit down and be ready to read and jump any route breaks underneath. He lacks the crisp breaks to gain separation, so he will need to prove he can be just as competitive underneath on possession routes as he is on jump balls downfield. The bottom is line Adams must sharpen his focus and consistently catch the ball.

Stocky safety/nickel hybrid with good strength and a compact frame but a lack of desired agility in coverage. Bledsoe played nickel primarily and had a disappointing ratio of touchdowns allowed to plays on the ball during his career. His hips tend to hang up when he tries to flip and mirror route breaks. He's missing the make-up burst to close the distance and prevent the catch against NFL-caliber receivers. Bledsoe plays with strength from press and good awareness from short zone, which might be the best option for what he brings to the table. He plays with plenty of toughness and competitiveness, but his coverage limitations and lack of traits are concerns.

In-line tight end prospect with good size and adequate strength but lacking consistency in centering and sustaining blocks. Farrell isn't going to dazzle anyone with play speed or athleticism and does most of his pass catching as a safe option in the flat or in the underbelly of zone coverage. Farrell needs to work on run-blocking technique, including his footwork, as a role as a dirty-work blocker is his most likely path to a roster spot.

Anderson is a good football player, offering versatility, athleticism and playmaking characteristics, but his size is a big obstacle. He's not big enough to be counted on as a pure backup running back, which means he will need to make it as a gadget player with wide receiver potential who can return punts. He has unreliable hands and focus when working into traffic as a pass catcher but does have the smooth hips and separation acceleration to compete at the receiver position if teams ask him to make that switch.

Early-down linebacker with clear eyes and good toughness, but a lack of short-area quickness and functional coverage talent could hurt his chances. Cole plays with a high football IQ and operates with the technique needed to play a consistent brand of football. His key reading and blocking-scheme recognition are going to work in his favor, as will his ability to drop his pads and make pre-emptive attacks on climbing blockers. His pursuit range is in question, though, as is his ability to consistently race to spots when he needs to finish as a tackler. He has the mindset of a capable special teams contributor, which could be critical considering his lack of traits and coverage ability.

Jones is a two-year starter at right tackle who will transition inside to guard due to a lack of athleticism at tackle. His wide frame can be a challenge to navigate and there is potential for improvement by making the proper adjustments with hand placement. However, his inability to bend and drop his pad level will make it even tougher to create leverage and sustain blocks as an interior player. Sub-package rushers might be too quick for him to handle in protection with his lack of body control.

Jones was moved around the field in 2020 in an attempt to get him the ball in a variety of spots. Ultimately, he lacks the long speed to threaten defenses and doesn't play with enough urgency as a route runner, which could lead to him wearing coverage around the field. He's OK in the catch-and-run quick game underneath but the athletic traits might fail to impress in the pros for a player who projects as a limited possession receiver.

Despite his size and ball production at the end of the year, there is too much tape (including the Senior Bowl) that put his struggles on display as it pertains to fluidity and stickiness in coverage. He lacks recovery speed and open-field athleticism to deal with NFL man coverage, but his 2020 experience at safety could open the door for a position change at the next level. He wasn't asked to do much more than basic two-deep drops, but he clearly has the coverage experience to adapt to more than that. However, he will have to become both tougher and more consistent as a tackle finisher in order to make that switch a full-time job opportunity.

A team might fall in love with the combination of size, speed and explosiveness, but it simply doesn't manifest itself enough on tape to buy all the way in. His issues digesting combo routes and his leggy transitions are serious concerns when tasked with man coverage duties. Coyle has the speed and athletic ability to range and make plays on the football both downhill and over the top, but he only did that in one season. He appears to be a better tester than impact talent, but traits often earn players a longer look at the next level.

Squatty but plays with above-average power and a gassed-up engine that keeps him charging at the action all game long. Evaluators might see his short arms and below-average testing and write him off, but he's a willing combatant whose toughness, play strength and natural instincts make him a challenge to keep away from the play. His demeanor is exactly what teams want from the position but issues with pursuit range are hard to ignore. Gallagher should be considered a bit of a longshot, but I give him a fighting chance thanks to the way he plays the game.

Bootle has played outside as a three-year starter but will need to prove himself inside for a chance to play in the league. He has good speed and is fluid enough to compete in man coverage on the first two levels. He's more effective from press than off-man coverage but becomes a target once he is matched up with size down the field. He lacks the length and size for jump-ball situations but has the footwork and aggression to make it tough on 50-50 catches underneath. His speed and athleticism give him a shot even if he goes undrafted, but scheme fit will matter.

Self-made interior lineman who began his career as a walk-on and finished as a four-year starter with his final chapter at a Power Five program. Heflin is low-cut and country strong with a wide frame carrying short arms. He's capable of handling himself in one-on-one scraps with his quick hands and strength at the point of attack, but doesn't have the technique to deal with double-teams just yet. He can bend and move, but struggles to make plays through block engagements. He is going to play hard as a rusher, but lacks NFL traits to make much of a difference in that category. His size and strength give him a puncher's chance, but it's tough finding a clean positional fit for him.

3-4 stand-up linebacker with a tendency of adding to his production against lesser-talented competition. Watson is a one-speed rusher with decent get-off and a couple of inside counter moves to work with, but he lacks the desired acceleration and bend at the top of the rush and doesn't have a power move. He has enough athleticism to make some plays behind the line, but his lack of aggression and play strength are concerns as a potential NFL edge defender.

Small school developmental tackle who is lacking in technique and play strength. Smith is a project at this point, but he has a favorable body type, including the length that NFL teams covet at tackle. He has decent quickness as a run blocker and shows good fluidity working his combo blocks up to the linebacker. His hand usage and placement is all over the place and must be corrected before he can ever see the field. He has better upside than most of the potential priority free agents at his position and could end up as a practice squad player early in his career while a team tries to coach him up.

Lanky, angular cornerback with good length but bad speed. Wright possesses above-average instincts and shows some ability to squat, burst and smother shorter routes from off coverage, but he will need help over the top because his recovery speed is lacking. He doesn't have the instant acceleration or agility to stay connected to NFL route runners, which will limit his scheme fits. His length and play traits could make him a target for Cover 3 defenses who care less about long speed and more about ball skills.

Seeing Thompson in the San Diego State uniform and observing his instincts and ball skills is very reminiscent of watching former Aztec and current NFL safety Damontae Kazee. Thompson isn't as long or loose as Kazee, but the way he processes the field in coverage is impressive. His ball production spanned all four seasons, so it's a talent and not a fluke. He's good at responding to route combinations and to clues from the quarterback, but he lacks the short-area burst to make up ground when he gets behind in the route. He's tight in his hips and runs with short strides, limiting his overall range and recovery talent. While those are legitimate concerns on the pro level, the football IQ and instincts could get him drafted if he runs well enough.