Imagining 2018 Final Four Stars as NFL Prospects

As soon as the NCAA tournament ends, the sports world's attention will shift to the 2018 NFL draft.

Villanova, Kansas, Michigan and Loyola-Chicago won't be quickly forgotten, but they'll fade into the backgrounds of conversations within a few weeks. However, we're bringing college basketball and the NFL together for a moment of entertainment.

For a few star players of remaining teams, we're pretending their scouting report is for football's upcoming draft. Given their skills, stature and perception, we've identified the position that best describes them on the gridiron.

An important asterisk: Not every star is included. Though this is purely a hypothetical, Moritz Wagner and Clayton Custer don't have ideal frames for football. (That's why they play basketball, right?)

Serious analysis about the Final Four will be readily available this week. We have it too! But we've grabbed a handful of standouts and reserved them for a moment of semi-realistic silliness. If you're interested in how this topic looked last year, check it out here.

Charles Matthews, Michigan

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In his first year of eligibility after transferring from Kentucky, Charles Matthews has emerged as the No. 2 scorer for Michigan.

Entering the Final Four, the 6'6" guard is averaging 13.0 points and 5.6 rebounds. He recently earned Most Outstanding Player of the West Region while securing 7.3 boards per game.

His ability to make a difference in the air is what suggests he would shine as a wide receiver. That connection is strengthened when considering Matthews' willingness to drive and handle contact.

Malik Newman, Kansas

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Another transfer, Malik Newman began his college career at Mississippi State before arriving at Kansas. He'd played well during the 2017-18 regular season, but a 32-point showing and heroic overtime effort against Duke sealed his place as a star.

In addition to being a great three-point shooter, Newman has showed he's able to attack the rim, absorb contact and finish anyway. He's also patient enough to know when a jumper is the right choice.

That's the makeup of a quality running back, one who understands whether to finish a run hard or wait for an extra blocker.

Newman would need to live in a cafeteria to pack on necessary weight, but he has the mentality of a runner.

Mikal Bridges, Villanova

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Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham are among the popular "basketball player to tight end" converts. But Mikal Bridges is a solid 40 or 50 pounds away from the switch.

He's better suited to line up as a receiver, especially given his quickness and smooth playing style.

Bridges has the hands to snatch a football from any player, too. The junior has collected a combined 2.6 steals and blocks per game in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.

If he packed on 20-plus pounds, Bridges would have the build to become a dependable receiver and premier red-zone target.

Devonte' Graham, Kansas

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Regardless of the team's result, Devonte' Graham puts up big numbers. Kind of sounds like Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons, huh?

The veteran quarterback is riding a seven-year streak of 4,000-plus passing yards, and he took the Falcons to the brink of a championship two seasons ago. Graham currently finds himself in that spot.

He scores 17.2 points and dishes 7.3 assists per game, which earned him 2017-18 Big 12 Player of the Year. Plus, his value as a four-year contributor extends to his leadership between the ears.

"Look, he's one of the top five players in America," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Graham, per ESPN's Jake Trotter. "And it's not just because he scores, but it's how he leads. When he's on the court, everybody is better. ... That's why they're as good as they are."

Jalen Brunson, Villanova

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Jalen Brunson knows where everyone is supposed to be, and the 6'3", 199-pounder isn't afraid to throw his body around.

As the point guard, he oversees Villanova's dynamic attack. Safeties do the same from their position in the secondary. The junior compares physically to Oklahoma State's Tre Flowers, who is listed at 6'3" and 200 pounds.

Brunson isn't a prototypical floor general since he's a legitimate post-up threat. That demands a special combination of physicality, technique and vision for a guard.