2016 NFL Draft: Surprise Names Who Could Sneak into the 1st Round
"Never" is a dangerous word when it comes to projecting NFL draft picks, even in the first round.
Every year, there seems to be at least one pick on Day 1 of the draft that leaves fans and analysts with raised eyebrows and shaking heads, and there's no reason to expect any different in 2016.
Last year, it was the Indianapolis Colts taking Phillip Dorsett. The year before? Marcus Smith to the Philadelphia Eagles. Keep going back, and you'll find players like Travis Frederick, Bruce Irvin, A.J. Jenkins and Danny Watkins sneaking into the first round to the surprise of even the most dialed-in pundits and diehard fans.
Who could be that pick this year?
Jihad Ward, DL, Illinois
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Some players end up being much better pros than they were college players for many different reasons. Whether it's their college team not using them in a way that maximized their skill set or they simply don't develop fully until they get to the NFL, late-bloomers pop up in every draft class.
This year, that player is Illinois defensive lineman Jihad Ward.
Ward spent plenty of his time lining up at nose tackle for the Illini but would be a much better fit as a 5-technique. He began his junior college career as a receiver, then moved to safety before developing into the massive front-line defender he is now. At 6'5", 297 pounds, Ward may not have the production to turn the heads of NFL scouts, but he has the physical traits that will make them drool.
Ward came out of nowhere to be one of the most impressive defenders at this year's Senior Bowl practices, showing off explosiveness and power all week long. Even in a deep defensive line class, Ward is the kind of untapped talent a team could take a chance on late in the first round.
Artie Burns, DB, Miami (FL)
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NFL teams love cornerbacks with size, athleticism, versatility and ball skills, and Miami's Artie Burns checks all those boxes.
Speaking on a conference call last month, ESPN's Mel Kiper put Burns in the first-round conversation, per Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald:
"So I would think Artie Burns, though, is a tremendously talented player. His skill-set is arguably as good as any of these guys. I would put him in the late first round. He was in the mix for several teams. I’ll wait on him a little bit until after the combine, but I think he’s a late one, early two.
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Despite playing in a rotation at corner last year, Burns led the ACC with six interceptions. He's also shown incredible maturity in facing adversity, losing his mother to a heart attack last year at just 44 years old. With his father incarcerated, Burns made the decision to leave school early for the NFL draft to support his son and his two younger brothers, of whom he now has custody.
Burns had a solid performance at the combine and could play either corner or safety at the next level. He's got the physical skills and mental toughness NFL coaches will love, and with two of this year's top corners measuring in at around 5'10"—Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III and Clemson's Mackensie Alexander—it wouldn't be a shock to see a team prefer Burns (6'0") in the first round.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article61854207.html#storylink=c
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article61854207.html#storylink=cpy
Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
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Much like Wisconsin's Travis Frederick sneaking into the first round thanks to the Dallas Cowboys just a few years ago, Alabama's Ryan Kelly is the center prospect who could do the same on the back end of the first round this year.
Kelly's combination of athleticism, strength and intelligence helped pave the way for 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, who became the first player in SEC history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season.
With teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers picking early in the second round with a need at center, don't be surprised if a team like Washington—which also needs a new starter at that position—decides to keep him from making it to Day 2 of the draft.
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.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State
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This year's draft class is stacked along the interior of the defensive line, but it's a different story when it comes to edge-rushers. There aren't many versatile prospects at the position who can rush the passer, disrupt the run game and drop into coverage with success, which could make a player like Boise State's Kamalei Correa rise up the draft board quickly as the first round unfolds.
At 6'3", 243 pounds, Correa has the frame and skill set to play the strong-side linebacker spot in a 4-3 as well as outside linebacker in a 3-4. He was a productive playmaker for the Broncos over the past two seasons, racking up 19 sacks and 30 tackles for loss over that stretch.
More and more NFL teams are employing a 3-4 scheme or one with multiple fronts on defense, which makes players like Correa increasingly valuable. It wouldn't be a shock for a team like the Green Bay Packers or Arizona Cardinals to grab him late in the first round.
Su'a Cravens, LB, USC
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They used to be known as "tweeners," but in today's NFL, "hybrid" defenders are becoming more of a valuable asset than an afterthought. This year's prime candidate is USC's Su'a Cravens.
With a frame and skill set that are somewhere between safety and linebacker, Cravens could thrive in a role similar to that of the Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon, who was a late first-rounder just two years ago.
At 6'1", 226 pounds, Cravens might be smaller than most NFL linebackers, but he still plays with the physicality of a much bigger player. He's comfortable in coverage and can react quickly to run plays and explode through gaps to make plays in the backfield.
He's the kind of versatile playmaker NFL teams are drawn to, and a team like the Minnesota Vikings could be a perfect fit for him in the latter part of the first round.
Keanu Neal, S, Florida
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Playing safety in the NFL requires explosive, quick-twitch reaction skills, physicality and athleticism. Florida's Keanu Neal has those traits by the bucketload, which is why he could end up going much earlier than many projections.
At 6'0", 211 pounds, Neal has the ideal NFL frame for the position and puts his size to good use as a big hitter in both run support and coverage. He reads plays quickly and explodes toward the ball on seemingly every snap, making opponents regret coming anywhere near him when they have the ball.
Two potential landing spots in the late first round for the former Gator? The Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
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The left tackle spot has long been considered the premier position on the offensive line, but this year's Super Bowl proved that right tackle is becoming just as important for NFL teams to address. If a team is looking for an experienced right tackle with an NFL frame—6'6", 324 pounds—and athleticism, Texas A&M's Germain Ifedi could be its man at the end of the first round.
A three-year starter for the Aggies, Ifedi has spent the last two seasons at right tackle. He likely could have benefited from another year in school to refine his skills, but he's clearly got the physical tools and potential to be successful at the pro level.
Ifedi's best spot in the NFL might be at guard, where he got his first starting action in College Station. No matter where he lines up, Ifedi's high ceiling could have him coming off the board earlier than many expect.
Maliek Collins, DL, Nebraska
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The biggest surprise player who could sneak into the first round is Nebraska defensive lineman Maliek Collins, despite the presence of many interior defensive linemen who are projected to be high picks.
As Lance Zierlein of NFL.com pointed out, Collins was a dominant wrestler in high school, which shows in his effective hand usage as a defender. Zierlein outlined more of Collins' strengths:
"Explosive get-off with good pad level. Has exceptional lateral movement and overall athleticism for the position. Moved around defensive line as rusher and allowed to stand to maximize athleticism as twister. Good coordination between hands and feet. Strong jump step and club move inside is his go-to rush. Flashes an impressive ceiling when it's clicking for him. Initial quickness opens door for disruption. Plus motor with active hands.
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His sack numbers don't jump off the box score—just seven over the past two seasons—but his 21 tackles for loss over that same stretch prove how disruptive he can be. There are plenty of teams looking to bolster their trenches in the first round of this year's draft, and Collins could come off the board much earlier than his current projections.
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
