This section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2019 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2019 NFL Draft Stock Up
Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State A few years ago, team sources told me that Campbell had big-time potential and could be a stud receiver. At the time, he was an underclassman buried on the depth chart behind veteran receivers, but over the past few years, Campbell has shown the big-play ability that jumped out to scouts in practice. Last year, Campbell’s receiving production was severely limited by the passing limitations of J.T. Barrett. This season, Ohio State has been better at getting Campbell the ball, and he has produced seven touchdowns on 52 receptions for 600 yards. Campbell (6-1, 208) has game-breaking speed with a nice frame. With his play this year, he looks like he is on his way to being a first- or second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Germaine Pratt, LB, N.C. State Pratt was a player who I had to bump up in my latest mock 2019 NFL Draft. Last year, he flashed as a clean-up player behind the disruption caused by Bradley Chubb, B.J. Hill and others. This year, Pratt has been even better and is making plays on his own. He is a tough defender at the point of attack with the speed to fly around the field and a physical attacking style of play. Last week, Pratt had a huge game with 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble against Syracuse. He has 73 tackles with eight tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, one pass batted and two forced fumbles on the year.
According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Pratt checks in 6-foot-2, 241-pounds with 31.5-inch arms, 8.75-inch hands, and a wingspan of 75.88 inches. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. Those are all excellent numbers for an NFL linebacker prospect, but Pratt came to N.C. State as a safety before growing into a linebacker. He could become a three-down starter early in his NFL career.
Kelvin Harmon, WR, N.C. State Harmon is a good receiver who has gone under the radar this season, but he had a monster game versus Syracuse that saw him haul in 11 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Harmon has 46 receptions for 794 yards and four scores. The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder is put together well and usually is a sure-handed receiver with quality route running. He is dangerous after the catch and has some good quickness. On the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft, Harmon could be a good value pick.
Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri Okwuegbunam is one of the most dangerous mismatch weapons in college football even though Missouri does not always utilize him. When the Tigers do use him, he produces big plays via his speed to get down the seam and his size to wall off defenders or make catches over them when they are able to keep him from getting separation. Okwuegbunam showed his special talent against Memphis, catching six passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. This season, he has 39 receptions for 420 yards with five touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder could be the first tight end selected if he enters the 2019 NFL Draft.
Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama ESPN NFL Draft legend Mel Kiper reported that he was hearing a first-round buzz on Irv Smith, and that sounds like an astute report from Kiper. Smith has been excellent this season as a mismatch weapon for Alabama. He is a shifty route-runner with quickness down the seam, good hands, and the size to be dangerous after the catch. This season, Smith has caught 22 passes for 384 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder also still has upside to grow as he gains more playing experience. His father was a first-round pick out of Notre Dame by the Saints in the 1993 NFL Draft, and Irv Smith Jr.’s uncle, Edward Smith, also played tight end in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, so Irv Smith Jr. has a NFL pedigree that could help him to assimilate to the pro game.
2019 NFL Draft Stock Down
Corbin Kaufusi, DE, BYU Kaufusi had an excellent game against Wisconsin and really embarrassed Badgers right tackle David Edwards, but that performance could end up saying more about Edwards than Kaufusi. In speaking with some team sources, they felt that Kaufusi should be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent. “In my opinion, he really does not have a position,” said one area scout. “He plays hard and has some length, but he’s truly not strong enough to play defensive end. He’s not a true pass-rusher and not a good enough athlete to play outside linebacker. Others might see him differently.”
There definitely could be other scouts who are higher on Kaufusi, but often scouts have similar assessments of players. That would signal that Kaufusi is a third-day or undrafted prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon Jelks has been quiet this season despite seeing some good pass-rushing opportunities. In Oregon’s upset loss to Washington State, Jelks was very quiet while Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew passed all over the Ducks. Jelks hardly even went against Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard, a potential second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Instead a right tackle who won’t be playing in the NFL consistently got the better of Jelks. Jelks has 3.5 sacks after eight games despite Oregon often playing with a lead and providing him with pass-rushing opportunities. This season, Jelks really has not had the look of a first-round pick.
Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia Earlier this season while speaking with a general manager, they told me that Cajuste was a player who intrigued them, but they also needed to watch him more. In following up with that GM, they said they came off Cajuste and was not impressed with his play. In the Big XII with weak defenses to play against each week, Cajuste is a competent blind-side protector for Will Grier. NFL teams, however, are down on Cajuste having that ability for the pro game. With his body type, Cajuste could be better off going inside to guard, and he will need to get stronger to block NFL defensive tackles.
Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa A few weeks ago, ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay listed Stanley as one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft and did not have Oregon’s Justin Herbert in his top five. Seeing Stanley that high was a surprise, as he has not had a season to justify a high draft projection. That was given further evidence on Saturday when Stanley really struggled against Penn State. He only completed 18-of-49 pass attempts for 205 yards and two interceptions versus the Nittany Lions. Stanley should definitely return to Iowa for next season rather than enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Emmanuel Hall, WR, Missouri Hall had a fast start to the season before being slowed down by an injury. He then had a death in the family that caused him to miss the game against Memphis, but in speaking to sources, Hall was going to miss that game anyway with his minor injury. Hall has not caught a pass since Week 3. League contacts have character concerns about Hall along with feeling he lacks toughness for the NFL. Hall has early-round ability, but he could slide to the mid-rounds or well into third day because of his personal makeup.
K’Neal Harry, WR, Arizona State Last week in the Hot Press, we wrote about how Harry was getting graded on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft. “He’s not twitchy or fast and will have a hard time separating in the NFL,” said one scout. “He has inconsistent hands as well. He’s more of a Day 2 guy, and he’s similar to Devin Funchess.” Funchess was a second-round pick for the Carolina Panthers, and it sounds like Harry could go on Day 2 as well.
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