Talent always finds its way through the cracks. Here are my best available priority free agents after this weekend’s NFL Draft in Green Bay:
1. Jared Ivey, Edge, Ole Miss, Sr.
Ivey has prototypical size and length for an edge defender, and finished last season with 10½ tackles for loss, seven sacks, three es defensed, and two forced fumbles.
2. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas, Jr.
Bond is undersized, but he’s electric in the open field and a capable route-runner.
3. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas, Sr.
Bryant was highly-productive, producing 13 interceptions and 35 es defensed in four seasons. He scored four TDs in three different ways: interception return (twice), fumble return and a blocked field goal return.
4. Hollin Pierce, T, Rutgers, Sr.
Pierce is massive with the wingspan of a condor — 88¼ inches was largest wingspan at the combine. He routinely makes first , and that’s usually all she wrote.
5. Zy Alexander, CB, LSU, Sr.
Alexander is competitive at the catch point, effective in man and zone, and a sure tackler in run and in space.
6. Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami, Sr.
Restrepo isn’t going to take the top off of a defense, but you’d be hard-pressed finding a tougher receiver with better instincts in this draft class.
7. Nick Nash, WR, San Jose St., Sr.
Nash tied for second in the FBS in receptions (104), ranked second in receiving yards (1,382) and led the nation in TD catches (16).
8. Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT, SMU, Sr.
As a rusher, he matches the hands of a boxer with the feet of a basketball player. He ran a 4.86 40-yard dash at the combine (9.20 RAS), which was the third-fastest time for participating defensive linemen in Indy. Harrison-Hunte turns 25 in July.
9. Maxen Hook, S, Toledo, Sr.
The two-time team captain possesses NFL-caliber size, speed and the special teams background to become an ace in the pros.
10. Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo, Sr.
The MAC Defensive Player of the Year led the FBS in tackles (168) while producing 18½ tackles for loss, 10 es defensed, 6½ sacks and five interceptions.
11. Logan Brown, T, Kansas, Sr.
Brown has ideal size and length. He was one of only six players in Indy with a wingspan of at least 84 inches.
12. Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon, Sr.
Muhammad is small, and not very explosive, but his combined 37 es defensed the past three seasons were the most in the FBS.
13. Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa, Sr.
The two-time team captain was a prodigious tackler, including an FBS-best 171 tackles in 2023.
14. Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan, Sr.
Edwards was the fourth-ranked running back in the 2021 recruiting class (top-50 overall nationally), and while he didn’t meet the high expectations, there’s been flashes through his four seasons in Ann Arbor.
15. Jahvaree Ritzie, DT, North Carolina, Sr.
Ritzie is uber-athletic (9.49 RAS) — ran relays in high school — and versatile enough to align in odd or even fronts, but he hasn’t figured out how to use all of his gifts just yet.
16. Elijah Ponder, Edge, Cal Poly, Sr.
Ponder has produced at least seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss in three of the past four years, while also making an impact on special teams (he’s blocked a field goal and PAT).
17. Nash Hutmacher, DT, Nebraska, Sr.
A former three-star recruit, Hutmacher won South Dakota state titles in the shot put and discus, while finishing as an undefeated (166-0), four-time state champion wrestler.
18. Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas, Sr.
Dotson turned four of his 12 career interceptions into TDs and produced 27 es defensed the past two seasons.
19. Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame, Sr.
A former four-star recruit, Cross became a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish, and was voted team captain last season. He earned second-team All-American honors the past two seasons.
20. Eugene Asante, LB, Auburn, Sr.
Asante’s production last season was underwhelming, but there’s a lot to work with here, including dynamic experience on special teams (14 career tackles).
21. Tyler Batty, Edge, BYU, Sr.
Batty features NFL size and length with functional athleticism (8.77 RAS). He wins with power and technique, but he’ll need a more imaginative rush plan to take on tackles in the pros. Batty turns 26 in May.
22. Chandler Martin, LB, Memphis, Sr.
Martin is an explosive athlete (8.84 RAS) who can read-and-react and consistently makes plays in the backfield.
23. JJ Roberts, S, Marshall, Sr.
Roberts is an elite athlete (9.67 RAS) who produced 94 tackles (five for loss) and 14 es defensed (tops in the Sun Belt) last season.
24. Jasheen Davis, Edge, Wake Forest, Sr.
Davis has the strength and length to set the edge as a run defender, but it’s his first-step quickness and slippery rush ability that will earn him a shot in the pros.
25. Jackson Woodward, LB, UNLV, Sr.
Woodward led all FBS linebackers in es defensed (16) and was second in interceptions (four), while also producing a team-high 135 tackles and 17 tackles for loss last season.
26. Jake Majors, C, Texas, Sr.
Majors is technically proficient, functionally strong and athletic enough to thrive in the pros. His combination of toughness and high football IQ is a coach’s dream.
27. Xavier Truss, T, Georgia, Sr.
Truss’ play strength, functional athleticism (7.02 RAS) and versatility are the selling points.
28. Luke Kandra, G, Cincinnati, Sr.
A former three-star recruit, Kandra spent three years at Louisville before ing the Bearcats in 2023, earning second-team All-American recognition each season at right guard.
29. Joe Huber, G, Wisconsin, Sr.
Huber is an athletic (8.98 RAS) former walk-on who has shown the ability to mirror. He’s scheme-versatile, but he’ll need to maintain his weight and continue to get stronger in the pros.
30. Joshua Gray, G, Oregon St., Sr.
Gray is an instinctive athlete (8.90 RAS) who can be weaponized in the run game, but there’s still work to do in pro. Gray turned 25 in March.
31. Brady Cook, QB, Missouri, Sr.
Cook generated some buzz at the combine, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical jump while tossing in a 10-foot-8 broad jump for good measure. The broad jump was only one inch from tying Anthony Richardson’s combine record for a QB in 2023.
32. Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina, Sr.
Sanders was a former wide receiver, and it shows in his ability out of the backfield.
33. Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, T, Florida, Sr.
Crenshaw-Dickson is more developed in pro, but he’s a competitor and plays through the whistle as a run blocker.
34. Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio St., Sr.
McLaughlin won the Rimington Trophy (top center) and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors despite missing the final six games with a ruptured Achilles.
35. Clay Webb, C, Jacksonville St., Sr.
Webb is strong, athletic (8.68 RAS) and looks like he’s regained his confidence from his tough experience at Georgia.
36. Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis, Sr.
Henigan was a highly-productive, four-year starter for the Tigers — he was the first true freshman to start a season opener in program history.
37. Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson, Sr.
Briningstool was the top-ranked tight end in the 2021 recruiting class. He was a two-time third-team All-ACC selection for the Tigers and voted team captain his senior season.
38. Jaylin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech, Sr.
Conyers scored three different ways last season: five TD catches, two TD runs and one TD . He’s an impressive athlete (9.28 RAS) for his size with good ball skills.
39. Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota, Sr.
Brosmer was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (top FCS player) for New Hampshire in 2023 before ing the Gophers last season. He’s a cerebral QB with average traits who looked impressive at the Shrine Bowl.
40. Cam Horsley, DT, Boston College, Sr.
Horsley is strong, athletic (8.54 RAS) and a stout run defender.
41. Eli Cox, C, Kentucky, Sr.
Cox impressed at the combine, earning a 9.90 RAS, which is the highest in this draft class at center. He turns 25 in October.
42. Jack Henderson, S, Minnesota, Sr.
Henderson is a competitive athlete (9.38 RAS) with impressive ball instincts who could earn a spot as a core special-teamer in the pros.
43. CJ Dippre, TE, Alabama, Sr.
Dippre is a good-sized athlete with adequate speed (he ran a 4.69 40-yard dash in Indy), and has the ability to break tackles after the catch.
44. Dean Clark, S, Fresno St., Sr.
Clark’s size, speed and explosiveness (9.33 RAS) will earn him a shot somewhere.
45. Jailin Walker, LB, Indiana, Sr.
Walker is built like a safety, fast (4.40 40-yard dash at his pro day) with a nose for the football, but his size leaves him a small margin for error.
46. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB, Kentucky, Sr.
Dumas-Johnson’s athleticism (8.99 RAS) doesn’t really pop on film, but he’s usually where he needs to be and he’s flashed blitz potential for two different SEC programs (13 sacks in four seasons).
47. Brandon George, LB, Pittsburgh, Sr.
George was a mainstay on special teams, but his explosive testing (9.98 RAS) at his pro day is what will likely earn him a shot in the pros.
48. Alijah Huzzie, CB, North Carolina, Sr.
Huzzie’s ball production is impressive — 16 interceptions and 60 es defensed in six seasons — and he’s played both inside and outside.
49. Sebastian Castro, S, Iowa, Sr.
The 2023 version of Castro was draftable. The guy who tested during the draft process, not so much.
50. Taylor Elgersma, QB, Laurier, Sr.
The 2024 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, the Canadian equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, started 33 games for the Golden Hawks across four seasons in Waterloo. Elgersma showcased his legit arm talent and deep-ball accuracy in Mobile, Ala. at the Senior Bowl.
51. Willie Lampkin, G, North Carolina, Sr.
Lampkin is an extreme size outlier, but his championship wrestling background is evident from the moment you start watching his tape.
52. Melvin Smith Jr., CB, Southern Arkansas, Sr.
Smith was able to show good mirror-and-match skills at the Senior Bowl, which is exactly what you want to see from a Division II corner stepping up in competition.
