Trey Lance, Zach Wilson top issues

A partial stock market, a part of the casino, the NFL concept is a three-day exercise (or if you count all the legwork, a year-long) to weigh risk against reward. And the payoff – as well as the toll – of all 32 teams’ decisions will not be entirely clear for years to come.

Of course, if innumerable variables have to be taken into account to weigh one prospect against hundreds of others, there is, of course, no reasonable expectation to find a “certain thing” in the concept. However, some players offer a more volatile range of potential career outcomes each year. And while some of those prospects have yielded significant returns on their teams’ initial investments – think of Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks coach DK Metcalf or Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers – others have gone down as warning stories.

These ten players could be the biggest advancement in the NFL Draft Class 2021:

NFL DRAFT: 11 teams that could possibly turn heads by choosing a quarterback

MORE: 10 NFL Draft Prospects That Can Have Better Careers As Benefits

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota

Question marks: Experience, anticipation

Projecting how quarterbacks will move to the NFL holds multiple leaps of faith, but which team Lance chooses will have to sort through several unknowns. After being prolific while setting a 17-0 record during his time at the soccer field championship level, the 6-4, 224-pound player faces a steep learning curve at the next level as he will be asked to make reading and timing throw that was not demanded of him, in the North Dakota state’s grave transgression. Its accuracy, especially deep, can also be erratic. Beware, however, if he catches up quickly on those fronts. Lance can be a unique talent thanks to his unusual blend of arm strength, running ability, skill and calmness.

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Question marks: Performance under pressure, footwork

Every player who draws comparisons with Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers after an outbreak season should experience excitement and suspicion. Wilson delivered one brilliant strike after another last year, and he made a thrill as the NFL’s next unconventional game creator. However, it’s worth wondering if the results are repeatable in light of the constant pressure to which the 6-2, 214-pound quarterback was rarely subjected last year. And while throwing from outside the platform has made the best highlights of college football this past season, his repeated footwork can lapse and daring playful interception style yields in bunches. Wilson, who is very much tied to the New York Jets and the No. 2 pick, could be exactly what the morbund franchise needs for a turnaround … or he could become the latest in a long line of disappointments at quarterback.

MORE: BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is a rumble of the NFL draft. But does his potential warrant the hype?

Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

Question marks: Size, durability, downfield playing ability

Is the diminutive the next Tyreek Hill or Tavon Austin at 5-7 and 180 pounds? Maybe not, because for Moore, it could be Hill’s highlight, the three-time All-Pro Kansas City Chiefs star, or Austin’s low, the former top-10 pick who has never darkened 510 yards in a season. His electrical ability with the ball in his hands cannot be denied. But given his stature, injury history (11 games missed in the last two years) and inexperience with field campaigns, Moore may find that his success depends largely on whether he is creative enough with a staff to harness his strengths while he brings the rest of his game along.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Question marks: Trail running, disputed fishing ability

Left in single cover last year, Toney was adept at shaking defenders into cover and once he had the ball, few of his peers could match his cutting ability. In the NFL, however, it is unreasonable to expect the 6-0, 193-pounder to disregard all players in the same way as at university. It is therefore essential that Toney develops better pace and polish on his routes, while also establishing himself as a reliable target on disputed catches. His penchant for generating big matches after the catch should solidify his place in the first round and make him look very early in his career.

Walker Little, OT, Stanford

Question marks: Lack of experience, polish

Little was a former five-star recruiter and has the framework (6-7, 313 pounds) and movement skills to be a cornerstone. But after playing just one game in 2019 due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and then being sidelined last year, his development is a mystery. Some teams may see the ideal package for a high-level fit protector, but others may be wary of the work yet to be done.

Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State

Question marks: Instinctive, pass-rush movements

With a rare speed (4.36 seconds in the 40-yard line) for a player of his size (6-5, 257 pounds), Oweh will be a problem for any attacking tackle who is not fully prepared for his fast rush. However, if he refused a run to the quarterback, he did not have much backup plan. After starting just one year at Penn State after taking up football as a high school junior, he can still make a significant leap if a professional coaching team can hone his instincts and moves. However, his style of one note will go just as far on the next level.

Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami (Fla.)

Question marks: Power, fluidity

Rousseau, who was a wide receiver and safety in most of high school, broke out on the college football scene in 2019 by picking up 15 1/2 bags as a red shirt freshman before opting for the previous season. While the appeal of its 6-7, 266-pound frame is evident from its pace rush, it is also its inexperience. After repeatedly pulling inwards and hitting the offensive lineouts of the university with his length and sheer determination, Rousseau will have to find new ways to get past blockers to the next level because he does not have the power for an effective bull run. . If he builds up without losing explosives, Rousseau can be an impressive match, but a lot of work still needs to be done before he can become a legal threat from the rand.

Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

Question marks: Discipline, playing ability

At American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, Campbell, along with Patrick Surtain II, Alabama cornerback, made one of the best forwards in years. But while Surtain became a master-technician at the university to position himself in April to become a potential top-10 pick, Campbell is too often undone by his own mistakes. He combines a 6-1, 193-pound frame with excellent long speed and agility, and he has all the teams for physical qualities in their quest for off-corners. Yet he may struggle to fit the routes of the receivers and be able to play a ball on the ball, making him vulnerable early and often in his professional career.

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Question marks: Man coverage experience, health

Before opting for the 2020 season, Farley was considered by many of the top 10 picks and the leading corner in the draft. Fast forward to this microdiscectomy, but he was possibly jumped by Surtain, Jaycee Horn in South Carolina and Greg Newsome II in the Northwest. While Farley said doctors believe he will be ready for the season, he also missed the last two games of 2019 with a back injury and tore his ACL as a freshman. On the field, his feeling for the position only develops with only two seasons of experience after switching from wide receiver. Still, at 6-2 and 197 pounds with excellent closing speed and ball skills, Farley could be a steal if he slips on draft day.

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

Question marks: Aggressive play style, approach

If the ball is thrown to Cisco, there is usually a big game ahead. It’s just not always clear if it’s going to be an interception – he grabbed 13 in 24 games – or a long finish, as his daring approach leaves him vulnerable to burnout. His running defense is also a mixed bag, with a lot of hits and hits scratching his head. Cisco’s extensive range and ability to find the ball can make it a dynamic security, but if it is no longer judicious, it can have a high-risk style of play.

Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.

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