Standout gamers aren’t simply discovered within the first spherical of the NFL Draft. Past the primary spherical, groups will discover many high quality starters.
Forward of the draft in Inexperienced Bay (April 24-26), Yardbarker NFL writers establish one participant for each AFC group who must be a main candidate for choice on Day 2 (Rounds 2-3 on Friday) or Day 3 (Rounds 4-7 on Saturday).
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Security Kevin Winston Jr. | Winston measured 6-foot-2 and 205 kilos at Penn State’s professional day, the place he ran a 4.50 40-yard sprint 5 months after an ACL tear that ended the 2024 season for the previous group captain. With 60 tackles, 5 go breakups and an interception in 2023, Winston might have first-round expertise, however the Payments will gladly take him within the later rounds to problem Damar Hamlin and new addition Darrick Forrest, who each signed one-year offers with the group within the offseason.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Guard Donovan Jackson | Given the group’s robust need to guard oft-injured QB Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are projected in lots of mock drafts to take an offensive lineman within the first spherical. However one other wouldn’t damage, particularly Brown, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound guard who moved to left sort out for Ohio State’s final 9 video games in 2024 to assist the varsity win its ninth nationwide championship.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | DE Jordan Burch, Oregon | As a participant, new head coach Mike Vrabel excelled in Invoice Belichick’s 3-4 protection, however he largely ran a 4-3 scheme as Titans HC. Burch is comfy in each formations, had 8.5 sacks in 10 video games final season and has spectacular measurement (6-foot-6 and 295 kilos).
NEW YORK JETS | WR Tez Johnson, Oregon | After three years at Troy, Johnson adopted his adoptive brother, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, to Oregon, the place he made 169 catches for two,080 yards and 20 touchdowns from 2023 to 2024. He is not massive (5-foot-11, 165 kilos) or tremendous quick (4.51 in 40-yard sprint), however his route-running means and short-area quickness may open issues up for No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | RB Jaydon Blue, Texas | Denver may take North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (6-foot, 221 kilos) with choose No. 20 within the first spherical, however Blue (5-foot-9, 196 kilos) could also be a greater match for head coach Sean Payton’s offense. In 15 video games in 2024, the versatile again had 1,098 yards (730 dashing and 368 receiving).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Edge-rusher Bradyn Swinson, LSU | Throughout their 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX, the Chiefs had simply two sacks. Swinson (6-foot-4, 255 kilos) recorded 8.5 sacks in 13 video games in 2024, so he may fortify Ok.C.’s go rush.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | WR Ricky White III, UNLV | At UNLV professional day on March 24, White (6-foot-1, 184 kilos) advised Nick Walters of KTNV-TV in Las Vegas he “would like to be a Raider.” Vegas ought to take into account conserving White in Sin Metropolis, as he had 79 receptions for 1,041 yards and 11 landing catches in 13 video games in 2024.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Defensive lineman Darius Alexander, Toledo | Alexander may exchange D-lineman Poona Ford, who signed a three-year, $27.6M take care of the L.A. Rams in free company. On the Senior Bowl in Cellular, Ala., offensive linemen voted Alexander (6-foot-4, 305 kilos) the top D-lineman. He additionally had eight tackles for loss in 12 video games in 2024. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia | It’s by no means a foul concept to construct up the trenches with Georgia gamers, and the Ravens have a gap of their inside offensive line after left guard Patrick Mekari signed with the Jaguars. Ratledge (6-foot-6, 308 kilos) showcased his elite athleticism with a 4.97 40-yard sprint and a 9-foot-5 broad leap on the NFL Scouting Mix.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Security Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State | The Bengals want a tone-setter on protection, they usually can’t go one other season counting on Geno Stone and Jordan Battle within the again finish of the secondary. Winston (6-foot-2, 205 kilos) is a hard-hitting security with nice measurement, and he may’ve been a first-round choose if he hadn’t missed most of final season with a torn ACL.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State | The Browns don’t have a ton of expertise within the operating again room, however Henderson (5-foot-10, 202 kilos) would instantly change that as a home-run hitter out of the backfield. The previous No. 1 RB recruit within the nation averaged 7.1 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns in his senior yr.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | QB Will Howard, Ohio State | If the Steelers go down the Aaron Rodgers highway, which appears imminent, they need to add a QB within the draft to check and develop underneath one of many best QBs of all time. Howard (6-foot-4, 236 kilos) is coming off a nationwide championship run with Ohio State, has excellent measurement and energy and is among the extra correct QBs (73 p.c completion share final season) on this yr’s class. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota | The Texans traded Laremy Tunsil this offseason and might have to make use of a number of draft picks to deal with their offensive line points to adequately shield C.J. Stroud. Ersery (6-foot-6, 330 kilos) is among the larger tackles within the draft, glorious in go safety and has intensive expertise in Houston’s zone-based operating scheme.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | TE Gunnar Helm, Texas | The Colts have obtained subsequent to nothing from tight ends within the passing recreation over the previous few seasons. Helm (6-foot-5, 241 kilos) had 60 catches, 786 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Longhorns final season. He’s excellent after the catch, which would supply a pleasant security valve for QBs Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss | After shedding Calvin Ridley by way of free company final offseason and releasing Christian Kirk this offseason, the Jaguars wouldn’t have a lot vast receiver depth past Brian Thomas Jr. Harris (6-foot-2, 205 kilos) has the mix of NFL measurement and velocity, big-play means and expertise that might assist open issues up for Thomas.
TENNESSEE TITANS | DE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State | The Titans badly have to discover a method to get to the QB after they generated simply 32 sacks as a group final season, tied for twenty ninth within the NFL. Tuimoloau (6-foot-4, 266 kilos) is much from essentially the most athletic edge-rusher within the nation, however he had 6.5 sacks in opposition to elite competitors within the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season and has a knack for disrupting performs within the backfield. — Steve DelVecchio
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