NFL Draft prospects better than consensus highlighted by explosive edge rusher, undersized cornerback with elite ball skills, and massive nose tackle

The NFL Draft is just a day away, and the excitement is felt across the industry. Over the course of the entire draft cycle, there have been multiple players who have been controversial with opinions across the board, especially at the top of the class. No matter which side you fell on, there was a […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Sep 14, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) evades Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is just a day away, and the excitement is felt across the industry.

Over the course of the entire draft cycle, there have been multiple players who have been controversial with opinions across the board, especially at the top of the class. No matter which side you fell on, there was a sense of confidence across the board.

Each analyst will pound the table for a certain number of prospects that you have above consensus, and these are my guys that I believe are better than the rest of the industry, including data from Arif Hasan's consensus board and our own big board at A to Z Sports.

youtube placeholder image

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 3rd
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 19th
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 14th

Stewart is one of the more polarizing players in this class, but he shouldn't be. Don't let the lack of production fool you. His 4.5 sacks are fine when you add in the context that he was asked to play contain more often than not at Texas A&M. What he was able to do playing at nearly 285 lbs from an athleticism standpoint is truly special.

Will I end up being too high on Stewart? Like the Jacksonville Jaguars did with Travon Walker, I don't think I will be. His profile will translate in any defense and I'm willing to make the bet that he fulfills his potential.

Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 6th
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 35th
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 20th

Cornerback is an interesting position this year. There is some intriguing/elite first-round talent, but the class drops off relatively quickly. One player that isn't viewed as highly as he should be is Revel, mainly due to suffering a torn ACL during a September practice.

Revel has all the goods you could ask for. He's nearly 6'3, long arms, and very athletic. He can recover incredibly quick in both man and zone coverage. Revel looks like he's built in the lab to be a cover-3 cornerback for Pete Carroll, but he can play in any scheme. don't let the ACL injury fool you, he's got the goods.

Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 28th
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 97th
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 79th

I am the highest in the industry on Riley, and that's more than fine with me. He can do a little bit of everything. While being slightly under 5'11 and 193 lbs, Riley has enough play strength to thrive in both man and zone coverage. His 13 interceptions and 34 passes defended highlight his best trait of great ball skills.

Riley can play both man and zone coverage well in both the slot and the outside with the fluidity and athleticism to flip his hips and recover when he gets a bit too aggressive. Don't be surprised if Riely is the biggest steal of the NFL Draft.

Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 40th
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 132nd
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 131st

At Houston, Caldwell was used more as a 3T, but at 340 lbs, his game is better as a nose tackle. Because of this, Caldwell has more pass-rush juice than the standard nose tackle. He torques his hips well to prevent blockers from displacing him off the spot and penetrates the backfield with ease. He can be a real problem on all three downs in a rotational role with the growth potential to be a 40-50 snap/game player.

D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 41st
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 106th
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 73rd

One question you may have about having Giddens higher is: how much does it have to do with his 4.43 40-yard dash? Honestly, not at all. He never came through on tape as a guy who ran that fast, as I thought he looked like a 4.53 40-yard dash kind of player. 

What he's great at is seeing the field, making cuts against the grain in zone concepts, and both avoiding and breaking tackles. Giddens is perfect for a zone scheme, but he can run in any system. Giddens is the kind of player that will go late day two, early day three and be a long-term starter in the NFL.

Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Scouting Report

  • My ranking: 49th
  • Arif Hasan's Consensus Board: 135th
  • A to Z's Consensus Board: 106th

This is a really deep running back class that can go multiple ways. After the top 2-3 players, there is a group of 8-10 who could occupy the next 3-5 spots. Etienne is my RB5 for multiple reasons. He can play in any scheme with 4.43 speed and elusiveness in the open field. Etienne also has some room to grow in the passing game, catching all but one pass thrown his way, and that one was uncatchable. Etienne can hit the home runs and the doubles, and that's why I'm betting on him.

Related Articles