NFL Draft: First-Round Party Crashers
With the Super Bowl concluded, it is officially draft season and there are a lot of players we must get to know. Like every draft, there are star players and long shots, but today we are going to focus on a lesser thought-of group of players: the party crashers. These are the prospects that might not get a lot of TV time leading up to the draft, but just might crash the first-round and work their way into America’s hearts. So get comfortable and let’s learn about some new prospects.
NFL Draft: First-Round Party Crashers
NFL Draft season is here, and speculating first-round picks will be the headliner. Click here to view the prospects that could crash into the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Potential First-Rounders
Running Back Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
When it comes to the modern NFL running back, a player has to be able to do a little bit of everything and two prospects exemplify this trait the most: James Cook and Spiller. Unfortunately for Spiller, he wasn’t on a national championship team. That being said, Spiller might be the most complete running back in this draft. In his three seasons at Texas A&M, Spiller’s lowest season in rushing yards was 946 and he averaged just under 200 receiving yards a season. During his entire career at Texas A&M ,Spiller was by far the team’s most dangerous player. Even if it was a late-game situation and a touchdown was needed, Spiller was still the go-to guy and that isn’t something seen very often. If he can have a big performance at the Combine, it is very likely we will be hearing his name called on the first night of the draft.
Tight End Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
As we see on a weekly basis in the NFL, all of the best offenses in the league have one thing in common: A big, strong, and athletic tight end, who is also a major big-play threat. Likely fits the bill perfectly. Coming from the nation’s biggest party crashers over the last two years, Coastal Carolina, Likely was in a perfect situation to put his tight end skills on display. Coastal Carolina was a run-first team and built their pass game off of that, so a player needs to be able to block if he wants to see the field. Couple that with his receiving skills and big-play ability and he is something special. The best potential for Likely being a first-round pick is with teams that have selections at the end of the round. Of the last 10 picks in Round 1, eight are in need of a tight end. It seems like the perfect opportunity for Likely to crack the first round.
Linebacker Chad Muma, Wyoming
The nation’s leading tackler with a whopping 142 tackles, Muma is an outstanding middle linebacker. He is a big and physical, and has the athleticism to play sideline to sideline. Hailing from a smaller Division I school, it can be difficult to get noticed. Muma made sure people were paying attention, as he put up great production and then had a great week at the Senior Bowl. For teams looking for a thumper at linebacker and someone who can play coverage, Muma is clearly the guy. It’s unfortunate that where a prospect plays can affect things because Muma should surely be getting more first-round attention.
Safety JT Woods, Baylor
If a team needs a ball-hawking safety, then Woods is the guy. He was tied for most interceptions in the country this past season and helped lead Baylor to a rare conference title. Woods took full advantage of his senior season because he not only had an outstanding season, he finished strong by being a standout player in two all-star games. His will to make an impression could give him a huge boost come draft day because it shows teams that he cares and that he is always trying to get better.
2022 First-Round Sleepers
Running Back Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Tight End Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
Linebacker Chad Muma, Wyoming
Safety JT Woods, Baylor
