Every year it seems like the NFL Draft has a group of players that are absolute locks for the first round. This year that crop includes several blue-chip prospects like LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Alabama offensive lineman Jedrick Wills, and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah among others. With that crop of first-round guarantees comes the guys that analysts and experts cast out as Day 2 players. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the names that haven’t been widely advertised as “first-round guys” and tell you why they could be a surprise call come April 23rd!
Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
This year’s offensive tackle group could be one of the best total groups we’ve seen in years. Starting with Wills from Alabama and including small school risers like Ben Bartch from St. John’s and Matthew Peart from UConn, there are plenty of potential NFL starters in this class. Enter Lucas Niang, one of the more forgotten tackles in this class. A monster of a man at 6’7″, 328 pounds, Niang has an extremely high upside as a future starter in the league. He possesses great instincts and has great balance for someone of his stature. Niang is your definition of tough, fighting through a hip injury that, on film, looked to hurt his pass sets, but showed his toughness and willingness to fight through injury for his team. Plenty of teams will be looking for a quality anchor for their offensive line and with plenty of high-profile names going in Round 1, don’t be surprised if you hear Niang’s name be called before the round is over.
Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
There’s been plenty of talk about Chinn and fellow small school safety Kyle Dugger since the Senior Bowl, but neither has received any legitimate first-round love. I’m here to tell you, it is very much deserved for Chinn. The Southern Illinois product pops out on film with his big hits and his playmaking abilities. Chinn could be an incredible hybrid safety or sub-linebacker, as he has a great nose for the football and understands his run fits extremely well. Chinn actively seeks out turnovers rather than letting them fall in his lap. While Chinn hasn’t gotten the same love as LSU’s Grant Delpit, I feel like Chinn might be the superior of the two. Don’t be shocked if Chinn gets drafted in Round 1 and if he is selected before Delpit.
Ross Blacklock, IDL, TCU
Injuries might keep Blacklock from reaching the first round, but his talent is certainly worthy of the call. A big defensive lineman with plenty of power, Blacklock has all the makings of a dominant NFL force. With the interior defensive linemen not getting all that much love outside of Auburn’s Derrick Brown, South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw, and Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa (who is listed as an EDGE), Blacklock is a name that could definitely sneak up into the end of the first round.
Joshua Uche, EDGE, Michigan
With all the hype surrounding certain defenders in the NFL Draft, there’s always one that comes into the draft with great tape and great abilities, but just never seems to get the love they deserve. My award winner for that title this year is Michigan edge rusher Joshua Uche. Uche’s tape in 2019 is full of power plays and great reps against some of the top linemen in the country. The biggest reason Uche might not be getting a ton of love at this point in the process is his lack of overall experience. Uche didn’t get quality playing time until 2019, but he showed why he could be deserving of a first-round pick. Uche has tremendous upside and excellent burst as a pass rusher but also showed that he could be beneficial in pass coverage. His upside could make a first-round team extremely happy in the long-run.
Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
This draft class is riddled with quality corner prospects across the board, with several corners already slated as Day 1 locks. Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is the consensus CB1, but his teammate and fellow Buckeye Damon Arnette will make his case for being a surprise first-round draft choice. Arnette is a starting-caliber cornerback in this class, possessing great man coverage techniques with great instincts overall. He has great ball skills and change of direction, allowing for fluidity when mirroring a receiver’s route. Why he hasn’t been mentioned as a top corner in this NFL Draft class, I couldn’t tell you, but Arnette has the goods and should shock some people if his name gets called on Day 1.
