written by: Will Keys
We’re inching closer and closer to the first day of the NFL Draft. It’s so close that Mel Kiper has started evacuating his bladder in preparation for the weekend while Roger Goodell is diligently studying the wrong pronunciation of all the potential first rounders’ names.
All the talk is about the quarterbacks, and perhaps rightfully so. As many as four could go in the first five picks of the draft, which is unprecedented, but it also means that some of the best overall prospects in the draft could fall down the board.
So what kind of players could those teams in the 5-10 range be getting? Here are some pros and cons for the best non-quarterback prospects that will be going early in the first round on Thursday:
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Pro: Unprecedented speed for a running back his size
Con: Once he starts running it’s very hard to stop, much like Speed
Pro: Able to catch passes out of the backfield
Con: Has anyone ever asked him if he wants to catch passes out of the backfield?
Pro: Excellent character on and off the field
Con: Journalism major at Penn State, may struggle to pay the bills
Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Pro: Dominant in pass and run blocking
Con: 325 pounds, maybe keep an eye on those leftovers you left in the fridge
Pro: 35 reps on the bench press
Con: Kind of a show off in the weight room
Pro: Able to anchor any offensive line for a decade-plus
Con: Will get booed at the draft simply for being a guard
Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Pro: Von Miller called him a “Miller/Mack hybrid”
Con: Von Miller has no scouting experience
Pro: Praised by Bill Belichick
Con: Never, ever trust Bill Belichick
Pro: Able to disrupt plays with his excellent motor
Con: According to Lance Zierlein, Chubb “has experience standing” — I would hope so
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Pro: Ball hawk of Alabama’s championship defense
Con: Did not attend Harvard like certain other Fitzpatricks
Pro: Able to play cornerback or safety
Con: Kind of a girl’s name, don’t you think?
Pro: Able to put up with Nick Saban yelling in his face for three years
Con: Couldn’t stop Hunter fucking Renfro in the National Championship
Denzel Ward, DB, Ohio State
Pro: One of the fastest players in draft with 4.32 40-yard dash
Con: Skipped Cotton Bowl, obviously prefers synthetic fibers
Pro: From Macedonia, OH rather than the Balkan country of Macedonia
Con: Can get pushed around by bigger receivers
Pro: Has been compared to Chris Harris, Jr.
Con: Will never be the best Denzel W.
