NFL Draft Preview: Offense
On Thursday night, the most important draft in more than two decades for Notre Dame will begin in Chicago.
Amazingly, the Irish have not produced a top-10 selection since 1994. Had it not been for linebacker Jaylon Smith suffering a devastating ACL and LCL tear in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, Notre Dame might have had two such players in 2016.
With Smith’s stock plummeting due to the torn ligaments and nerve damage, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is the only former Irish player that has a chance to end that streak this year. His place in various mock drafts has fluctuated between a top-five selection and the mid-teens since last season ended, but some analysts now think he could be the first tackle off the board.
Sports Illustrated’s Michael Silver tweeted Tuesday that there is “even some sense that the [San Diego] Chargers are considering Stanley … with the third overall pick.”
DraftCountdown.com analyst Scott Wright has also noticed Stanley rising in the rankings.
“I think Ronnie Stanley’s going to go, maybe even a little earlier than some expect,” he said. “Potentially as early as the top five overall, but certainly somewhere in the top 10. It could even be somebody trying to trade up to get him.”
Eleven former Notre Dame players have a chance to be drafted this weekend, although the final count will likely be nine or 10. Five of those prospects come from the offensive side of the ball, highlighted by Stanley.
Wide receiver Will Fuller, however, could join Stanley in the first round, with various mock drafts placing him No. 22 (Houston), No. 23 (Minnesota) and No. 24 (Cincinnati). Fuller’s speed cannot be doubted after he produced a 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, but scouts have questioned his route running and catching ability.
“With this wide receiver class, it’s basically beauty in the eye of the beholder,” said Wright, who projected Fuller to the Houston Texans in his final mock draft. “It depends on what you’re looking for and there’s a chance Fuller could be the first wideout off the board. We might not see a single wideout go in the top 20 overall and then see maybe six or seven going in the next 30 picks in the 20 to 50 range. That’s kind of the sweet spot for wide receiver value.
“It’s not necessarily that I think he’s the best receiver in his class or that that’s the consensus around the league, but he’s certainly in that top tier, worst case the second tier. He’s right in that late first, early- to mid-second range and he’s the type of player the Houston Texans need.
“I think the team specifics are going to play a role in what order the wideouts come off the board, more so than just having a natural pecking order. Depending on the team and what they’re looking for, I think everyone’s probably going to have a slightly different list at the top of that position.”
Center Nick Martin is expected to be chosen in the second or third rounds, with his versatility on the interior of the offensive line attractive to potential suitors.
Running back C.J. Prosise, whom a number of analysts have identified as one of the draft’s most intriguing skill position players, should fall in the third or fourth round.
Wide receiver Chris Brown’s 4.44 in the 40-yard dash should also help him be drafted sometime Saturday in rounds four through seven.
For Notre Dame fans, this weekend should provide the deepest and most talented Irish draft class since the Lou Holtz era.
“I think [Stanley and Smith] are going to be the two main storylines,” Wright said, “but for Notre Dame this is kind of the first real big payoff of Brian Kelly’s tenure there where he started bringing better talent, and now it’s starting to pay off not only in terms of the quality of the prospects but the quantity as well.”