LAS VEGAS (AP) — Very little is certain heading into an NFL draft. Not that the prospects on hand seem to care.
There’s a level of confidence that, for them, Thursday night’s first round is a sure thing.
“I know I am the best cornerback in this draft,” Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner said Wednesday, a massive necklace spelling out his nickname “Sauce” wrapped around his neck. “I feel like I can dominate whoever is in front of me.”
Not many players figure to be selected in front of him, though all of the 20 men on hand for a Play 60 event with local youths and Commissioner Roger Goodell believe they have shown the goods to be a high first-rounder. Even the very first pick, which for the second straight year Jacksonville owns.
“Oh yeah, in college I thought about being No. 1 for sure,” acknowledged Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, considered along with Georgia defensive end Travon Walker as the probable top pick. “I’ve just been trying to put myself in that position.”
Hutchinson laughed when asked if going atop the draft would be even more satisfying than finally beating Ohio State, which the Wolverines did in November.
“Nothing compares to beating Ohio State,” he said, his eyes seemingly drifting back to the Big House in Michigan. “Being drafted is a big feat, being drafted first, but I don’t think anything can beat beating Ohio State.”
The self-faith that the very-soon-to-be pros exhibited matched their level of performance on the field in college. A vast majority of them went to big-time football programs in major conferences, and played for a variety of championships. Big games were common for, say, any of the multitude of Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes players attending the draft in Las Vegas.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean, a key contributor to Georgia’s national title, noted that as many as 15 of his teammates might be drafted.
Asked how he will react if he hears his name called by Goodell on Thursday night — the second and third rounds are Friday night, the final four rounds Saturday — Dean didn’t see the need to replace the word “if” with “when.” But it was clear in his response.
“I’ll share the moment with all of my teammates,” he said. “We all talked about when we first got to college. Win a championship and then go the NFL and get drafted in the first (round). You’ve got to have that confidence about yourself, period. Even guys who are at a Division III school. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.”
There is no Division III player in Las Vegas — at least none who was invited by the league — but plenty of guys who are accustomed to the big stage and crucial games are present.
Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, who easily could go in the top 10, believes such a background can only help in the adjustment to the professional ranks.
“Every week and wherever we would go, it was a big game,” he said, adding with a chuckle that “people either love us or hate us, mostly hate us. So we played with that chip on our shoulder. At Notre Dame, we’re used to the spotlight. And every game in the NFL is a big game.
“I’ve always watched the draft since I can remember. To be taken on the first day of the NFL draft will be very satisfying.”
It’s likely that not all 20 players attending will go in the opening round. Rarely does everyone invited by the NFL wind up a first-rounder.
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral and fellow QB Malik Willis of Liberty, Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis and Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson could last into Friday. Or they could go in the top dozen.
That’s how speculative this grab bag is, especially this year when there is no slam dunk prospect, particularly a passer.
Naturally, that’s not how any of the players are thinking. They refer to their pedigree, to what they showed on the field in games, and their performances in draft-evaluation workouts.
“There’s no strain or stress at all,” said Jermaine Johnson, the dynamic edge rusher from Florida State who played the 2019 and ’20 seasons at Georgia before transferring. “Just enjoying it, living the dream.
“Teams see I am a complete player, can pass rush, but affect the game not just in the passing game but I will shut down one side of the field in the running game. You’ve got to take away another man’s will and show him that you won’t ever give up. That’s what I live for.”
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Corral is slightly undersized, but he's an NFL-caliber playmaker with genuine arm talent, and features the quickest release in this class. The dual-threat QB was the only FBS player with at least 3,300 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons. There have been maturity concerns throughout his career, but they seem to have subsided this past year. His smallish frame will raise questions about his durability, but he's held up well against the toughest competition college football has to offer. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Corral is slightly undersized, but he's an NFL-caliber playmaker with genuine arm talent, and features the quickest release in this class. The dual-threat QB was the only FBS player with at least 3,300 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons. There have been maturity concerns throughout his career, but they seem to have subsided this past year. His smallish frame will raise questions about his durability, but he's held up well against the toughest competition college football has to offer. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Ridder is the most pro-ready signal-caller in the draft. He's a field general with solid anticipation, a good arm and is athletic enough to make plays outside of the pocket while also being a weapon in the run game. He was 43-6 as a starter for the Bearcats, never losing a start at home (26-0).
Coaching should be able to help refine his technique in the NFL and help improve some fixable accuracy issues. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Jeffrey McWhorter
Ridder is the most pro-ready signal-caller in the draft. He's a field general with solid anticipation, a good arm and is athletic enough to make plays outside of the pocket while also being a weapon in the run game. He was 43-6 as a starter for the Bearcats, never losing a start at home (26-0).
Coaching should be able to help refine his technique in the NFL and help improve some fixable accuracy issues. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Howell is the best downfield passer in this group and he proved to be a legitimate threat as a runner last season despite failing to meet big expectations. He needs to improve his patience within the pocket and dig deeper in his progressions on early downs — his production on third down in 2021 reveals he's capable of leveling up. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Chris Seward
Howell is the best downfield passer in this group and he proved to be a legitimate threat as a runner last season despite failing to meet big expectations. He needs to improve his patience within the pocket and dig deeper in his progressions on early downs — his production on third down in 2021 reveals he's capable of leveling up. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Willis spent two seasons as Jarrett Stidham's backup at Auburn before transferring to Liberty. His dynamic mobility, strong arm and intangibles have taken center stage during the draft process, but there are serious accuracy/consistency issues that will need to be ironed out in the NFL, likely requiring him to carry a clipboard for at least one season. Projected: Rounds 1-2
Butch Dill
Willis spent two seasons as Jarrett Stidham's backup at Auburn before transferring to Liberty. His dynamic mobility, strong arm and intangibles have taken center stage during the draft process, but there are serious accuracy/consistency issues that will need to be ironed out in the NFL, likely requiring him to carry a clipboard for at least one season. Projected: Rounds 1-2
The Heisman finalist took a major step forward in his fourth season as a starter. Pickett is a three-time team captain who passed Dan Marino in all of the school's major statistical passing categories. He's most dangerous outside of the pocket when he goes off script, but he needs to work on his anticipation throws and his comfort within the pocket. His small hands (8 1/2 inches) — he wears gloves on both hands — have led to ball security issues (38 career fumbles in 52 games at Pitt). Projected: Rounds 1-2
Keith Srakocic
The Heisman finalist took a major step forward in his fourth season as a starter. Pickett is a three-time team captain who passed Dan Marino in all of the school's major statistical passing categories. He's most dangerous outside of the pocket when he goes off script, but he needs to work on his anticipation throws and his comfort within the pocket. His small hands (8 1/2 inches) — he wears gloves on both hands — have led to ball security issues (38 career fumbles in 52 games at Pitt). Projected: Rounds 1-2
After three seasons at Arkansas, Kelley transferred to FCS-level Southeastern Louisiana. He won the Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman) in 2020 and was the runner-up in 2021 after finishing with 5,615 yards of total offense, the third most in FCS history (184 yards behind Steve McNair's record). Kelley has legit arm talent and is surprisingly mobile for his size, but ball security (15 fumbles last season), age (he turns 25 this year) and level of competition is concerning. Projected: Rounds 7/PFA
Thomas Graning
After three seasons at Arkansas, Kelley transferred to FCS-level Southeastern Louisiana. He won the Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman) in 2020 and was the runner-up in 2021 after finishing with 5,615 yards of total offense, the third most in FCS history (184 yards behind Steve McNair's record). Kelley has legit arm talent and is surprisingly mobile for his size, but ball security (15 fumbles last season), age (he turns 25 this year) and level of competition is concerning. Projected: Rounds 7/PFA
Strong features good height and size for the position (especially for this draft class), with accuracy at all three levels and the arm talent to consistently attack outside the numbers. He wins with his arm, not his legs (he's a statue in the pocket) and problems with his right knee stretch all the way back to 2017. Projected: Rounds 3-5
Tom R. Smedes
Strong features good height and size for the position (especially for this draft class), with accuracy at all three levels and the arm talent to consistently attack outside the numbers. He wins with his arm, not his legs (he's a statue in the pocket) and problems with his right knee stretch all the way back to 2017. Projected: Rounds 3-5
Zappe rewrote the FBS record book this past season with an absurd 5,967 yards, and 62 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions in 686 pass attempts in his only season for the Hilltoppers. Not bad for a no-star recruit who received only one scholarship offer (Houston Baptist). Projected: Rounds 4-7
Eric Gay
Zappe rewrote the FBS record book this past season with an absurd 5,967 yards, and 62 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions in 686 pass attempts in his only season for the Hilltoppers. Not bad for a no-star recruit who received only one scholarship offer (Houston Baptist). Projected: Rounds 4-7
A broken foot got him Wally Pipped at Wisconsin. He led the Irish to 11 wins in his only season at South Bend. He's an efficient, accurate passer with athletic limitations who is capable enough to compete for an NFL backup spot initially. Projected: Rounds 4-7
Rick Scuteri
A broken foot got him Wally Pipped at Wisconsin. He led the Irish to 11 wins in his only season at South Bend. He's an efficient, accurate passer with athletic limitations who is capable enough to compete for an NFL backup spot initially. Projected: Rounds 4-7
Evan Neal, center left, and Zion Johnson participate in a community event ahead of the NFL draft Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
Evan Neal, center left, and Zion Johnson participate in a community event ahead of the NFL draft Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
