This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2020 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2020 NFL Draft Stock Up
Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette, CBs, Ohio State Don’t be surprised if Okudah and Arnette are two of the stars of the defensive back workout at the combine. Team sources have said they heard both have been running some blistering 40s at their combine prep workouts. Okudah could run in the 4.3s and Arnette could be in the 4.4s in Indianapolis. Both would be tremendous times for cornerbacks with their sizes. Okudah’s time could make him a top-five lock, and Arnette’s could improve his first-round hopes. For Arnette, the combine interviews are more important than the field workout, as there are a lot of character and makeup concerns with teams, so he needs to illustrate that those issues are behind him. There is little doubt, however, that the Buckeyes duo will be among two of the most impressive cornerbacks on the field at the combine.
Josh Uche, OLB, Michigan Uche has the potential to be one of the players who really improves his standing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Some team sources think he could be a second-round pick and has the potential to rise if he works out well. Uche was a fast edge rusher for the Wolverines with a knack for getting to the quarterback. The 2020 NFL Draft is not deep for edge-rushing talent, and Uche could benefit from that as he has a few seasons of tape proving his ability to pressure and sack the quarterback.
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU There are some teams that are really high on Queen and have him grading out highly. Other sources said they saw Queen in the second round with late first-round potential if he works out well in the leadup to the 2020 NFL Draft. Queen is a fast linebacker who has a lot of upside, so he definitely has the potential to be a workout star who climbs draft boards over the final weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft.
Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois Chinn impressed teams in the interviews at the Senior Bowl, and in the weeks that have followed, his stock has continued to rise with teams. They see a lot of versatility in how Chinn could be used in the NFL. With his speed and quickness, the 6-foot-3, 219-pounder has the versatility to also be a dime linebacker. Some teams view Chinn as a hybrid defender who can play numerous positions to help a team. Chinn is expected to work out well, and he could rise into being a second-day pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa There are four offensive tackles who are expected to go as top-16 picks of the 2020 NFL Draft, but teams vary on which one is the top tackle on their board. Some teams have Wirfs graded similarly to Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton as the top three tackles. Other teams vary in their order, but one team source said Wirfs could end up being their top tackle prospect. Wirfs has a good skill set and could be a star in pre-draft workouts. Judging from team sources, Wirfs has a shot at being a top-five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
2020 NFL Draft Stock Down
K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State Hill had some teams giving him a second-day grade during the fall, but in speaking with team sources, they have lowered Hill on their board. He did not blow evaluators away at the Senior Bowl and could be falling into a label of jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none. Hill is now on the third day of some teams’ boards, so he needs a strong combine and a strong pro day to help reverse the slide.
Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama Over the past few weeks, NFL teams have been holding their pre-combine meetings, with all of their scouts going over players and coming together on where they are being graded. Wills received a ton of hype at the end of the season and into the new year, but not all teams are has high on him. Team sources say Wills will go in the top 16, possibly as a top-12 selection, but some teams have him graded well behind Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. Thus, I dropped Wills in my mock draft behind that trio but stil have all four going in the top-12 picks.
Darnay Holmes, DB, UCLA In speaking to some team sources last week, they have Holmes graded lower than the media hype would suggest. Evaluators feel Holmes lacks the necessary speed to be a starter in the NFL. They do feel Holmes is a gritty competitor, and that could be seen in a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl, but his tape was not as impressive. They feel Holmes is more of a backup and special teams player. Thus, Holmes is more likely to get picked in the early rounds of the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA Similar to his UCLA teammate, Kelley had a good week at the Senior Bowl to help himself but team sources see some limitations for the next level. Scouts say Kelley is more of a banger with some juice and vision. They think he might sneak into the third round, but is more of a fourth- or fifth-rounder. If Kelley runs fast at the combine this week, that could really help him to be seen as having the potential to be more than a banger backup running back.
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