Ian Cunningham’s first night is over, and early reactions have been positive. Cunningham was able to get excellent value from both his picks. Avieon Terrell was considered a 1st round prospect, and many had Zachariah Branch going as early as the 2nd round.
Let’s hope this trend continues into Day 3. Here are some of the best available prospects:
LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Louis is a high-IQ player and an explosive athlete. He plays bigger than he is and has a knack for making splash plays on defense. He was a pressure machine
with 50 the past two years, and his alignment versatility fits Ulbrich’s scheme.
C Connor Lew, Auburn
Lew made my list yesterday, and I was surprised to see him fall. He would be fantastic value on Day 3, could push for the job immediately, and if he loses out in camp, the Falcons still have a succession plan in place for when Ryan Nuezil’s deal is up the following season.
C Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Sticking with centers, Hecht would make one heck of an addition—sorry. In all seriousness, Hecht is one of the most athletic centers in this class. He’s a mover in the run game and can run anything you want. Like Lew, he’d be legitimate competition and a good player to invest in before the team is empty-handed at the position.
LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Boettcher was a Senior Bowl standout and is an intriguing athlete. He was drafted in pro baseball’s 13th round, but he is a legit football player. He’s a reliable tackler and shows good instincts in coverage. He also had his best season as a blitzer with 4 QB hits and 12 pressures. Ulbrich could help take his game to the next level.
OT Isaiah World, Oregon
World is the kind of giant (6’8″, 330lb) offensive tackle that you hire Bill Callahan to develop. He has heavy hands to match his long arms and has an explosive first step in pass sets. His overall quickness is surprising for his size. However, he’s still raw and is over-reliant on his heavy hands, which can lead to wiffs. That being said, with the right coaching, his ceiling is limitless.
IDL Demonte Capehart, Clemson
Inconsistency is my biggest critique of Capehart’s game, but when he’s on, he’s unblockable. He can blow up the interior offensive line single-handedly and is a physical run stopper. His pass-rush production isn’t great, but he could earn an early-down role for his run defense. Capehart has a 9.96 RAS (relative athletic score). He can play both 1T and 3T and would be a great project for Nate Ollie.
Other Notable Day 3 Prospects
OL Brian Parker II, Duke
OT Diego Pounds, Ole Miss
DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
DT Kaleb Proctor, South East Louisiana
WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
