The Los Angeles Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but the NFL draft process is getting started with bowl games already beginning. With over 40 games to be played over the next month, there will be plenty
to watch in preparation for the NFL Draft.
This list could change with players opting to stay in school or not to play in the game at all. This is simply a potential list players to keep an eye on throughout the draft process. Most of these players will be from the consensus top-300. This is a good starting point to get us ready for draft season. As a note, this list will get updated with more bowl games over the coming weeks.
College Football Playoff
Oklahoma vs. Alabama (Dec. 19)
- QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
- OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
- EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama
- WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
- LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
- CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
- iOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama
- S Keon Sabb, Alabama
- DL Tim Keenan III, Alabama
- S Bray Hubbard, Alabama
- iOL Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
- TE Josh Cuevas, Alabama
- RB Jamarion Miller, Alabama
- EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
- WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
- QB John Mateer, Oklahoma
- DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
- RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma
- TE Jared Kanak, Oklahoma
Ty Simpson is going to be an interesting one to watch. With a solid College Football Playoff, the Alabama quarterback may decide to declare for the draft. This is expected to be a thin quarterback class at the top. If Simpson garners some first-round buzz, he should declare. The Rams may not need a starting offensive tackle, but Kadyn Proctor is a top name to watch. On the Oklahoma side, Deion Burks is an electric player.
Miami vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 20)
- EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
- OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
- EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
- QB Carson Beck, Miami
- CB Keionte Scott, Miami
- WR CJ Daniels, Miami
- DL Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
- EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
- iOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
- CB Will Lee III, Texas A&M
- LB Taurean York, Texas A&M
- S Dalton Brooks, Texas A&M
- OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
- OT Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
- DL Albert Regis, Texas A&M
- RB Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M
Carson Beck is another player that will have a lot to prove during the College Football Playoff. If he can lead Miami to a National Championship, it would prove a lot. Francis Mauigoa is a prototypical left tackle and one of the best tackles in the class. Will Lee III is a day two cornerback with good size and length. That size makes him one of the better man corners in the draft class.
Tulane vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 20)
- DL Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss
- LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
- QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Zxavian Harris is a player I’ll be watching throughout the draft process. He’s an intriguing prospect because of his size and versatility. He can line up inside. Ole Miss will use him as an edge rusher because of his explosiveness off the ball. We’ll see how Ole Miss performs without their head coach.
James Madison vs. Oregon
- QB Dante Moore, Oregon
- TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
- EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
- DL A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
- iOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
- OT Isaiah World, Oregon
- S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- iOL Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
- DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
- OT Alex Harkey, Oregon
- TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
The Oregon player that I’ll be watching is Dante Moore. This is one of the two quarterbacks that I would be fine with the Rams drafting in the first-round, even in a trade-up scenario. My comparison for him is CJ Stroud and that’s a quarterback worth building around. He’s only 20 years old and the perfect option to sit behind Stafford. With the Rams running more 13 personnel, Kenyon Sadiq can’t be ruled out as an option for the Rams. However, if the Rams do go tackle, Isaiah World may be one to watch.
Bye Week Teams: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech
Ohio State is probably the most talented team in the country and that’s seen by how many players they have in the consensus top-300. If the Rams are picking inside the top-10, Caleb Downs could be the most ‘sure thing’ at safety. The Rams do a good job developing safeties, but Downs provides exactly what they need if they can’t bring back Quentin Lake. Austin Siereveld is a day two tackle with guard versatility who consistently finds ways to win his matchups. Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is a big-bodied wide receiver that I could see the Rams liking. Lastly, Lee Hunter may end up being one of my favorite players in this class. He’s a nose tackle, but does a lot of underappreciated dirty work.
