2024 NFL Draft Stock Up
Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M
Team sources have been impressed with the play of Robinson this season. They say Robinson looks like a potential starting right guard in the NFL. They note that while he has some athletic limitations, he is strong and is a people mover at the point of attack. Robinson is a tough, nasty, power right guard for the next level. He could be limited on some of the wide zone-run plays in the NFL thanks to his lack of footspeed and overall athletic ability. Robinson, however, still has a violent playing style and demeanor. He could be a second-day prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Julian Pearl, OT, Illinois
Pearl has started at right tackle and left tackle for the Illini over the past three seasons. He broke into the starting lineup on the right side during the 2020 season. Over the past few seasons, Pearl has been at left tackle. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder has versatile size with quickness and athleticism.
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Paul has starter ability for the NFL with good size, length, quickness and athleticism. He will enter the next level with a lot of experience after breaking into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Paul possesses upside, ability and versatility.
Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota
Spann-Ford is a Y tight end prospect who offers big size at the point of attack. In 2023, he has 13 receptions for 66 yards. He caught 42 passes in 2022 for 497 yards with two touchdowns. NFL team sources said Spann-Ford had impressed them in film study.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Team sources say Sinnott (6-4, 245) is a solid player who is draft-able. This year, he has 20 receptions for 286 yards and three touchdowns. In 2022, he made 31 catches for 447 yards and four scores. Sinnott is a tough player with the ability to contribute in both phases.
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Sweat is an early-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft, and he showed why last Saturday against Oklahoma. Midway through the first quarter, Sweat had a highlight-reel play, bull rushing the guard straight back into the quarterback with only one arm and then shedding the blocker before pounding the quarterback into the turf. That disruption caused an incompletion, and the Sooners were fortunate it wasn’t a sack. Two plays later, Sweat leapt high in the air to deflect a pass, which led to a failed third down for the Sooners. Throughout the first quarter, Sweat had his way with the Oklahoma guards, constantly rolling them back in the pocket. Sweat fell quiet for splash plays in the middle portion of the game, but he did a nice job of generating interior push and plugging up interior running lanes. In the fourth quarter, the 362-pound Sweat showed superb strength and quickness to get off a double-team block and then swallow up the running back for no gain.
Sweat’s performance against the Sooners should help his draft stock. He showed overwhelming size, strength, and shocking quickness and athleticism for a heavy nose tackle. Sweat proved he is not just a nose tackle to plug up running lanes, he also is able to power his way through guards in the pass rush to collapse the interior. Outings like how Sweat played against Oklahoma is going to help him to become a first- or second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton is an early-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft, and he looked like on very good against the talented defensive line of Texas. The Longhorns edge rushers made their presence felt in their win over Alabama, but Guyton shut down his blockers when they saw the Sooners. In the third quarter against Oklahoma, Guyton showed his strength at the goal line by riding his defender five yards backward and pushing him far away from the play. In the fourth quarter, Guyton moved his edge rusher out of the play, which opened up a huge lane and allowed his quarterback took off on a 44-yard run. Aside from a false start in the second quarter, Guyton was dominant versus Texas.
The 6-foot-7, 328-pound Guyton is an athletic freak with a special combination of size, speed, length and athleticism. He can use his big size and length to make it tough for defenders to run around him, as he has long arms to tie up defenders and an excellent ability to sustain his blocks. Guyton is also a smooth mover in space who possesses quickness to fire out of his stance and engage defenders. Multiple team sources had previously noted that Guyton has first-round potential, but needs to be more consistent. Guyton was consistent against Texas, and his performance will help his draft grade.
2024 NFL Draft Stock Down
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
WalterFootball.com spoke with sources from eight NFL teams about Wilson, and all of them had him graded after the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. “Too many butterfinger moments, and he’s not sudden, bursty or fast,” said a NFC director of college scouting. They went on: “More possession, jump-ball guy to win above the rim but inconsistent hands. You want juice in the first round, and if you don’t have that, you better have glued-up hands and special route-running.” Multiple team sources compared Wilson to former Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Perhaps Wilson will play better over the back half of the season, but right now, NFL team sources do not see him as a first-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
