Every year there are players who get hyped-up by draft analysts, but end up falling way past consensus, leaving fans wondering why their team passed on them. Sometimes there are medical reasons, character concerns, or the NFL might just not be as enthused by the player. Whatever the case may be, here are five candidates to be this year’s draft day fallers.
Cam Skattebo became a fan favorite during the college football playoff because of his highlight runs and gaudy production. NFL teams typically don’t value production as much as fans, and many teams have concerns about Skattebo’s overall athletic profile. His long speed is well below average for an NFL starter, and his ability to change direction has concerns as well. He also has major flaws as a pass blocker. Teams will no doubt fall in love with his toughness and play demeanor, but with the depth of this running back class, he could easily fall to day three.
Another fan favorite because of his elite production, it wasn’t long ago that Fannin was in the same tier as Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren for some draft analysts. Fannin led the entire country in receiver yards by a healthy margin, and had one of the best tight end seasons in recent history, including huge games against Penn State and Texas A&M. The concern however, is that he mostly won off of athleticism in college, but doesn’t truly have high end NFL traits. He will have to find new ways to be successful, making him more of a project than many fans may realize.
Tennessee ED James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce has elite athleticism and high-end production in the SEC, which is almost always a recipe for being a top pick. However, NFL teams have serious concerns about Pearce’s work ethic and love for football. It shows up at times on his 2024 tape, where he looks disinterested and takes too many plays off. This could be because Pearce has been a long time NFL prospect and has just been waiting to be draft eligible, but some teams might have him totally off their board. His range likely won’t start until the mid to late twenties, and it’s a real possibility he falls out of the first round.
Azareye’h Thomas was a popular pick in the late first round of drafts for a while, but he’s since dropped to more of a second round pick. He’s very young and has been productive at Florida State, but there are concerns about his athletic traits. He opted not to run at the combine, and ran a very pedestrian 4.58 at his pro day. He also doesn’t have the fluidity that you typically see from starting NFL cornerbacks. Don’t be surprised if teams opt for higher upside prospects on day two, causing Thomas to fall.
Alabama OG Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker has long been considered the top interior offensive lineman in the draft and is projected to go towards the end of the first round in many mock drafts. Teams tend to avoid investing too much draft capital in the interior of the offensive line, and many of the top tackle prospects are viewed as guards and centers at the next level. This could cause Booker to fall further into the second round.
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