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As we inch closer to November, a few NFL fan bases are already giving up hope on their teams’ seasons and turning their attention to the upcoming draft class. If you’re one of those fans, I’ve got good news for you: this draft class is loaded with elite talent at nearly every position. I see true franchise-altering players in this class, so it’s time to see which teams they may land with. It’s nearly impossible to project April’s draft order, let alone when prospects will be taken, but I’ve put together a list of where some of my favorite prospects may fit in the NFL.
Ashton Jeanty: Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys offense has fallen off a cliff this season. What was once an explosive unit capable of dictating games is now below league-average. Ashton Jeanty, the most explosive player in college football, looks like the perfect solution to the problem in Dallas. The Boise State running back is putting up numbers unlike any we’ve ever seen at the collegiate level. Through six games, he’s averaging 9.9 yards per carry and has scored 18 times. He could provide some much-needed juice in Dallas.
Abdul Carter: Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s offense has proven itself to be functional after a change at quarterback. The defense, on the other hand, simply lacks the players necessary to be a passable unit. Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter looks like the best pass rusher in the upcoming draft class. He’s earned a pass rush grade of 85.0 from PFF this season, producing 13 pressures and four sacks. While he may not be an every-down defender yet, he has the potential to develop into a game-wrecking pass rusher.
Will Johnson: Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are in the middle of a complete rebuild on defense. It truly doesn’t matter what position they choose to address in the first round of April’s draft, as long as it’s on defense. Michigan cornerback Will Johnson would provide some much-needed talent to the unit. Johnson is a prototypical corner, standing at 6’2” with impressive athleticism and coverage skills.
Jalen Milroe: Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders front office can’t morally put their fans through another season without seriously addressing the quarterback position. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are simply not players you can start if you’re serious about winning in the NFL. While Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is a project-type, to say the least, he would at least provide fans with some level of entertainment. Milroe reminds me of Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson with his strong arm and game-breaking athleticism. He also reminds me of Richardson in his occasional inability to make proper reads.
Travis Hunter: Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter is one of the most captivating collegiate athletes we’ve seen in quite some time. The Colorado star plays both cornerback and wide receiver at an elite level. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in need of game-changing players, and there may be no prospect better fitting than Hunter. Personally, I see Hunter as more of a cornerback than a receiver due to his impressive feel for the game on defense. However, he could slot in on either side of the ball in Jacksonville and make an impact.
Will Campbell: New England Patriots
The Patriots could draft a player at almost any position without raising eyebrows, but the offensive line appears to be the team’s most pressing need. To support franchise quarterback Drake Maye, New England should take a long look at LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. Due to his short arms, Campbell is expected by many to move to guard in the pros, so the Patriots may not spend a high draft pick on him. However, he’d be a clear upgrade at almost any position on the Patriots front line.
Tetairoa McMillan: Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately, Cleveland is not in a financial position to address their quarterback issues. With Amari Cooper now in Buffalo, targeting a receiver is the Browns’ next-best option. Standing at 6’5”, Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan has the frame and athleticism of an elite NFL receiver. He possesses the ability to take over a game, as evidenced by his 304-yard, four touchdown performance against New Mexico earlier this season.
Mason Graham: Cincinnati Bengals
If you only watched Cincinnati’s offense this season, you’d think they were on their way to the Super Bowl. Their defense has been so cripplingly bad that the Bengals sit at 2-4 despite having one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses. Rebuilding any unit starts up front, and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham could be the perfect piece to build around in Cincinnati. He’s one of the best run defenders in the country and has enough pass-rushing juice to make an impact.
Luther Burden III: New Orleans Saints
After a red-hot start in New Orleans, the wheels seem to be falling off. The Saints have lost four straight games, and the offense seems to have lost the explosiveness that made it so dangerous early in the season. Rashid Shaheed will hit free agency this offseason, leaving New Orleans with a weak pass-catching group outside of Chris Olave. Missouri receiver Luther Burden III has seen a slight dip in production this season, but he remains one of the more explosive options in this draft class.
Shedeur Sanders: Miami Dolphins
I mentioned earlier in this article that this draft class is loaded with talent at almost every position. It is certainly a weaker quarterback class than last year’s was, but a few signal-callers will inevitably rise to the top of the draft. With Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami in doubt, the Dolphins are in need of a long-term replacement. Colorado Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has shown the ability to operate on time when given a clean pocket, making him a perfect fit in Miami’s timing-based offense.
