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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.
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
- 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.
Shemar Stewart is a FREAKISH athlete
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025
At 6’5, 281lbs, Stewart possesses alien explosiveness, quickness, and raw power that allows him to wreak havoc and defend the run at an elite level.
He dominated the Senior Bowl and earned himself an early withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/6E5Yod2ATo
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
- 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.
Shavon Revel Jr. would be CB3 in this class behind Will Johnson and Travis Hunter on most people’s boards if he didn’t get hurt in 2024 in my opinion.
— Reason (@the_real_reason) April 16, 2025
Would have blown up the combine testing too.
That 2023 film is so elite, man.
If Miami doesn’t go CB at #13, Revel Jr. would… pic.twitter.com/NMQvvec8QS
Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
- 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.
CB Quincy Riley was the #Louisville prospect to watch last night and he didn't disappoint with 1 INT, 3 PBU (despite the loss).
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 28, 2023
A track athlete, Riley now has 400+ INT return yards in his career. No other FBS prospect in this class has more than 245. pic.twitter.com/IlUeGSPNXC
Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
- 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.
Jamaree Caldwell (90) aligned over the Center & moving way too well for a DT listed at 330+ lbs
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) April 8, 2025
pic.twitter.com/T3HU8I7W6y
D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State
- 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.
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens doesn't really have the best long speed, but his footwork and contact balance is so nice pic.twitter.com/M8GsPDR6ew
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) February 12, 2025
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
- 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.
Trevor Etienne off the chain, like he just broke out. 85-yard touchdown housed by the #Gators freshman. pic.twitter.com/JBLTbaH7Ix
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) November 12, 2022
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TODAY'S BEST
Insider Claims Steelers Are Furious With Former 2nd-Round Pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to prove to fans and media pundits alike as a Week 3 contest against the New England Patriots approaches. One of the main concerns thus far has been the defensive front not being able to stop the run. Through two games, the unit has allowed 149.5 yards per game, which is an absolutely ridiculous number for a defense that is labeled as the highest-paid in the NFL. The organization won't have a chance to be competitive in an AFC full of firepower unless Teryl Austin's unit can figure out how to stop opposing offenses. An asterisk can be put next to the first two matchups because rookie first-round selection, Derrick Harmon, hasn't had the opportunity to play, but what has been the most worrisome has been the individuals filling in for him that haven't been able to perform at an encouraging level. One of those players is Keeanu Benton, a former second-round pick who has not blossomed into the player that the team wanted him to be. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo appeared on a practice report show with the Patriots game on the horizon, and went into some more detail about the defensive line. While the team is high on the other rookie in Yahya Black, Dulac noted that there are some real concerns internally about what has happened with Benton over the years. "The key is being able to be physical and be aggressive, but still being able to make the play, and that's what they're hoping to see from [Yahya] Black," Dulac said. "You know, they really like this guy and he's only going to improve in time. The converse of that Ray, and you mentioned Keeanu Benton, was told to me from inside the building, that they actually think he's regressed." There is not a single member of the Steelers' coaching staff or front office that can be pleased if the feeling is that Benton is getting worse. Spending a second-round selection on a member of the front seven on defense is supposed to provide stability, but it has done the exact opposite. It shouldn't surprise anyone if Benton begins to see the field less and less, while Black finds more opportunities to show that he should be playing more often. It's not time to hit the panic button yet in Pittsburgh, but many are very close to doing so. If the run defense continues to get shredded on the ground, there are not going to be many chances to stop any offense that is on the other side of the ball. The Steelers also preach winning the time of possession, something that will be extremely difficult to do if running backs are having their respective ways with Pittsburgh's front seven. It would be exciting to see Harmon and Black in action together. It's possible that they could be the future on the defensive line for the Steelers. Benton's regression can't be looked at as positive in any way, so Dulac's words hint at the very possible fact that the franchise is not happy with the University of Wisconsin graduate. Austin and co. won't tolerate a player getting worse, and then performing poorly on top of it. Steelers Won't Last In The AFC North With Poor Rushing Defense All teams within Pittsburgh's division have capable rushing attacks, even the Cleveland Browns now that rookie Quinshon Judkins is in the fold. It is imperative that the defense in the Steel City figures out how to stop the run, as it will lead to more passing attempts and a better chance to get to quarterbacks. It shouldn't come as a shock if Benton is soon watching from the sidelines more so than he is playing on the field.
Raiders' Pete Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty
The Las Vegas Raiders had high hopes and expectations when they took Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in this year's draft. It's becoming increasingly rare to see running backs drafted so high, but after watching him post one of the single greatest seasons in college football history, he looked more than worthy of that honor. So far, however, the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist has looked quite mortal in his first two games in the pros. Ashton Jeanty hasn't gotten off to a fast start in the NFL He logged 38 yards and one score in his NFL debut, and then logged just 43 yards on 11 carries in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. That's why Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had to admit that they needed to take things slowly with Jeanty. While he acknowledged that they hadn't done much to put Jeanty in a position to succeed, he remains optimistic about the RB's prospects. "We're just getting started (with Jeanty)," Carroll told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "He's breaking into the NFL. He's figuring it out. He'll get more carries. We have to run the ball more effectively. We only got (68 yards), and that's not enough. We need more than that. We're bringing (Jeanty) along. More will come." Ashton Jeanty knows he has to do better Jeanty is averaging 2.7 yards per attempt, which is a far cry from his 6.4 yards per carry in college. At least he knows he has to be better, and he believes it's just a matter of time before he gets used to the speed of the pros. "Last week it was on me, I didn't do a good job of reading the plays. I'll put it on myself again this week," Jeanty said. "Just getting used to the speed, honestly. Last week kind of felt like I was moving a little slower, this week felt better. Still not there yet, but once it happens, it will be good." Jeanty continued commenting on the situation on Wednesday. He didn't mince words. Jeanty has posted the fewest rushing yards (81) among players with at least 30 carries, and his next chance to turn the page will come in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders' beatable run defense.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft (knee) uncertain for Week 3
Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft has not missed a game since the Packers drafted him in the third round in 2023, but a knee injury may sideline the team's leading receiver on Sunday against the host Cleveland Browns. Kraft, 24, was added to the injury report after Thursday's practice and was getting looked at to determine the extent of the injury, according to multiple media reports. Per the reports, the Packers believe that he will not miss significant time. Green Bay (2-0) already is without a pair of wide receivers, leaving quarterback Jordan Love without key pieces of the passing game. Jayden Reed could return this season after breaking his collarbone last week against Washington and also undergoing foot surgery for a preseason injury. Christian Watson remains out after ACL surgery in January and is on the physically unable to perform list. Kraft, who posted 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns while playing all 17 regular-season games in 2024, leads Green Bay this season with eight grabs for 140 yards and a pair of scores. Last Thursday, he notched his first 100-yard game with six catches for 124 yards and a score in a 27-18 home win over the Commanders. In his third NFL season, the native of Timber Lake, S.D., has compiled 89 receptions for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns in 36 regular-season games. Kraft also has 10 catches for 50 yards and one TD in three playoff games (all starts).
Marvin Harrison Jr. brushes off potential Cardinals controversy
Second-year Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. added some muscle weight during the offseason in an attempt to improve after he experienced an up-and-down rookie campaign. However, eyebrows were raised when he recorded just two receptions on five targets for 27 yards in Arizona's 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Harrison poured cold water over the idea that he cares more about his stats than about the fact that the Cardinals opened the season with back-to-back wins. Marvin Harrison Jr. brushes off "silly conversation" "That’s a silly conversation, really," Harrison responded when asked about the number of passes thrown his way across the season's first two weeks, per Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. "We’re 2-0. That’s the most important thing. We’ve got a big game this week, so that’s really my only focus. Anybody that’s a competitor loves the game, loves what they do. Everybody wants the ball. They want to impact the game. But most importantly, it’s all about winning." Many expected Harrison would take a major leap this season after the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft finished his debut pro campaign with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Thus far, that hasn't happened. In the Cardinals' 20-13 Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7, he caught five of six targets for 71 yards and a score. ESPN stats show that second-year New York Giants star Malik Nabers tallied a league-high 25 targets over the first two weeks of the ongoing season. To compare, Harrison enters Week 3 with seven receptions on 11 targets for 98 yards and one touchdown. Marvin Harrison Jr. insists he's happy despite lack of targets "It’s always frustrating when you may not get the impact that you kind of want in the game, especially when you put in so much work," Harrison acknowledged. "I know my process throughout the week and all the work that I put in throughout all season and leading up to the game. When you don’t get the results that you want to impact the game, that kind of is frustrating. But at the end of the day, you’re very happy that we’re 2-0 sitting here and got a victory." Earlier in the week, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warned that his team must be better about finishing games after Arizona flirted with snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on two occasions. Perhaps part of that process will involve Murray targeting Harrison early and often during this coming Sunday's game at the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers.
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