Three under-the-radar prospects who could be first-round picks
The consensus among many draft experts and league executives leading up to the big even is that most teams have similar first-round grades on approximately 15 to 20 players. Things get a little dicey after that.
Glancing at mock drafts from some of the most popular industry experts (Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah) gives some semblance of uniformity. But once the draft reaches teams like Minnesota at No. 23, the New York Giants at No. 25, or even Buffalo at No. 27, the door is opened for some under-the-radar players who could possibly sneak into the first round.
Here are three players who could land as unexpected first-round picks:
O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
There is expected to be a run on offensive tackles early in the draft, but in the back half of the first round, a team could take a flier on Torrence, a 6-foot-5, 346-pound offensive guard who thrives in pass protection. The Gator's big body also makes him an ideal plug-and-play guard for a run-heavy team.
Torrence, who is considered the top interior offensive lineman in the draft, has strong hands, quick feet and great awareness — all qualities that could convince a team that missed out on a top tackle to snatch him up before he reaches Round 2.
B.J. Ojulari, DE, LSU
While Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson and Nolan Smith command the lion’s share of attention among edge rushers in this class, Ojulari is no slouch. He has a quick first step and an advanced repertoire of moves to beat opposing tackles.
While he does not overpower many offensive linemen, he is athletic and fluid in his movement and uses his quickness and burst to his advantage. After the top three edge rushers are off the board, some teams may prefer Ojulari’s upside over the likes of Myles Murphy, Lukas Van Ness or Will McDonald IV.
Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
Georgia’s Jalen Carter and Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey are the consensus No. 1 and 2 defensive tackles in the draft, but it’s a coin flip between Benton, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee and Michigan’s Mazi Smith as to who holds the title of third-best DT.
Benton has prototypical size for a tackle (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) and he is a load to deal with when his pad levels are lower than his blocker’s. He also has excellent balance and footwork and plays with enough force and aggressiveness to make containment difficult once he gets into a rhythm.
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