Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese just blazed an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love established himself as the undisputed top running back in the class. LSU’s Mansoor Delane is locking down half the field in coverage. But if they land in the wrong system, that elite collegiate production vanishes. I evaluated player traits, new coaching tendencies, and gaping roster holes to find the ultimate landing spots for Rounds 1 and 2.
The scouting reports call him an athletic freak, but Arvell Reese needs a defense that lets him hunt. At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he shifted between off-ball linebacker and edge rusher for the Buckeyes. He requires a coordinator who knows exactly how to deploy a versatile, destructive weapon. The New York Jets own the second overall pick, and with Robert Saleh gone to Tennessee, the defense needs a violent spark up front. Drafting Reese gives them an instant pass-rushing menace capable of dropping into coverage or putting the opposing left tackle in the dirt.
You could almost feel the tension in the air at the combine when Jeremiyah Love stepped up to the podium and declared his ultimate goal. He runs with a violent, explosive style that punishes defenders. Washington needs a reliable three-down back to take the pressure off Jayden Daniels. Love does not just hit the gap; he explodes through it. Putting his dynamic route-running and elite burst next to a franchise quarterback gives Washington a terrifying backfield duo for years to come.
“I want to be the number one player selected. I’m not just a running back; I’m a weapon.”
— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB
Quarterbacks who test Mansoor Delane usually regret it. After transferring from Virginia Tech to LSU, he posted an absurd 31.3 passer rating allowed when targeted. He glues himself to receivers in press-man coverage and alters their release timing with violent hands. The Kansas City Chiefs hold the ninth overall pick and desperately need to reload their secondary after trading All-Pro Trent McDuffie to the Rams. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo loves aggressive, highly intelligent cornerbacks who survive on an island. Delane drops perfectly into that aggressive Cover 1 scheme.
These selections immediately alter the AFC and NFC power structures. General managers understand the high stakes surrounding these massive coaching shifts:
With 10 new head coaches implementing completely fresh playbooks, finding the exact right prospect for the exact right scheme dictates who plays deep into January and who cleans out their lockers early.
