We’re two weeks away from the 2020 NFL Draft, and while there are plenty of top prospects getting their well-earned attention in the first-round conversation, others are flying under the radar.
Here are my picks for the most underrated prospects at every position in this year’s draft:
QUARTERBACK
Jalen Hurts | Oklahoma
It’s hard to imagine a player with Hurts’ resume being underrated, but he’s still not getting enough respect as a top quarterback prospect in this class. Hurts made huge improvements as a passer in his senior year, similar to what we saw from Dak Prescott in his final season at Mississippi State.
Hurts has a similar skill set to Prescott, too, and has the ability to make a similar impact at the next level. Hurts should be in the second-round conversation after one of the most incredible careers of any college quarterback in history.
Runner-Up
James Morgan | FIU
RUNNING BACK
Darrynton Evans | Appalachian State
Big names from powerhouse programs will dominate the early rounds at most positions, and running back will be no exception. But any team looking for the best value will find it in Evans, who has a three-down skill set that will make an immediate impact at the next level.
Evans has breakaway speed, and an impressive combination of vision, patience and intelligence to set up his blockers and make plays for himself when necessary. He can help instantly in the return game, with starter upside. He should get consideration late on Day 2.
Runner-Up
Benny LeMay | Charlotte
WIDE RECEIVER
John Hightower | Boise State
Size, length, speed, route-running ability. Hightower checks every box necessary to be a No. 1 receiver at the next level, even if he needs a little refinement. He’s a big-play machine as both a pass-catcher and a return man, making him an instant-impact player for any NFL team.
Hightower’s combination of height, length and body control makes him a threat in the red zone, and his top-end speed is enough to stretch the field vertically and make magic happen after the catch. If he’s still on the board when Day 3 starts, the league has made a big mistake.
Runner-Up
Van Jefferson | Florida
TIGHT END
Mitchell Wilcox | USF
Let’s get that image of Wilcox getting drilled with a pass at the NFL Scouting Combine out of our minds, okay? Sure, it was awful, but it wasn’t as frustrating as watching him get misused by the Bulls’ sputtering offense over the past two seasons.
Wilcox won’t set the world on fire with his speed or athleticism, but he’s a reliable pass-catcher who can be open even when covered, and his willingness as a blocker is also a plus. He’ll be a late-round pick at best, but it won’t be hard for him to make a bigger impact in the pros than he did over his final two seasons in college.
Runner-Up
Devin Asiasi | UCLA
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Isaiah Wilson | Georgia
Andrew Thomas is the best tackle in this year’s loaded class, but his running mate is deserving of first-round consideration in his own right. Wilson is a massive mauler with a nasty, physical playing style, and his experience against SEC competition will have him ready to start from Day 1.
Wilson is a plug-and-play starter for any team who needs a battle-tested right tackle. He should be in the conversation in the latter part of the first round, and will be a bargain anytime on Day 2.
Runner-Up
Robert Hunt | Louisiana
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Darryl Williams | Mississippi State
Speaking of SEC blockers who have tons of experience against top competition, Williams as played both guard and center at a high level in college football’s toughest conference.
At best, Williams will eventually grow into an effective starter at any interior spot. At worst, he’ll be a valuable depth piece who can fill in at center or either guard spot. He’ll likely be a Day 3 selection, but his combination of versatility and pro-readiness should have him off the board earlier.
Runner-Up
John Molchon | Boise State
EDGE DEFENDER
Alex Highsmith | Charlotte
An afterthought during the high school recruiting process, Highsmith had to walk on at Charlotte to get his chance at college football success. He’s made the most of it for the 49ers, putting up big numbers and proving to be a constant headache for opposing offenses.
Highsmith racked up a school-record 17.5 tackles for loss in 2018, then followed it up with 21.5 last season, along with 14 sacks. He had a solid performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his nonstop motor should make him a favorite with league decision-makers.
Runner-Up
Jason Strowbridge | North Carolina
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
Rashard Lawrence | LSU
Similar to Jalen Hurts, it’s strange to think of Lawrence as underrated after the career he had in Baton Rouge. The defensive anchor in the trenches for one of college football’s powerhouse programs, Lawrence was an unquestioned leader for a often dominant defense.
While some may point to his lack of elite athleticism, Lawrence more than makes up for it with his physical playing style, his ability to line up anywhere on the defensive line, and his intangible value as a vocal leader on the field and in the locker room. If he’s still on the board after the second round, he’ll be a huge steal.
Runner-Up
Larrell Murchison | North Carolina State
LINEBACKER
Akeem Davis-Gaither | Appalachian State
The top three linebackers are in a tier of their own this year, and all hail from powerhouse programs. But the next-best prospect at that position isn’t from an FBS blue-blood. Davis-Gaither is a three-down playmaker with the perfect skill set for today’s NFL.
If anyone questions the level of competition he faced in college, Davis-Gaither put those concerns to rest with a strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl. It’s likely bigger names from bigger programs will come off the board first, but Davis-Gaither deserves to be taken early on Day 2.
Runner-Up
Mykal Walker | Fresno State
CORNERBACK
Amik Robertson | Louisiana Tech
In today’s NFL, the slot/nickel corner position has become a starting job, even more so than a third off-ball linebacker. That puts a premium on finding prospects with the versatile skill set to play the position effectively, and that should lead teams to Robertson in this year’s draft.
What he lacks in size, Robertson more than makes up for with all the skills required to be a blue-chip slot corner at the next level. His combination of quickness, physicality and intelligence should make him a lock to go sometime on Day 2. If not, teams will regret letting him fall to someone else.
Runner-Up
Reggie Robinson II | Tulsa
SAFETY
Khaleke Hudson | Michigan
Linebacker/safety hybrids seem to be all the rage in this year’s draft, from elite talents like Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons to small-school stars like Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kyle Dugger and Southern Illinois’s Jeremy Chinn. But there’s a big-school prospect that fits, and he’s flying under the radar.
While some may look at Hudson and see a ‘tweener with no position at the next level, I see a versatile defender who can make plays all over the field, no matter where he lines up at the snap. He’s projected as a Day 3 pick by most, and the right scheme and defensive coordinator will make him look like a huge bargain.
Runner-Up
J.R. Reed | Georgia
