Whose NFL Draft stock rose and fell in the past week in college football? A senior quarterback’s performance grabbed plenty of attention.
The NFL Draft stock of college players can change over the course of a long football season. Initial summer thoughts can change based on a player’s growth and development of lack thereof. No one really had heard much from Quinnen Williams before his meteoric rise last season, while the Brian Lewerke hype train cooled off in 2018.
Over the year, certain performances will bring prospects to the forefront, while others will have lackluster weeks and see their stock drop. Some of the changes will be reflected on the big board. Most won’t though, which is why this post exists.
Let’s look at a few prospects who helped and hurt their stock this past weekend.
Stock Up: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
The running back class for the 2020 NFL Draft could be spectacular. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor is in the top-tier of the group, so while his stock isn’t soaring, there is a reason it’s up. Taylor has the vision, patience, and closing speed to be an elite runner in the NFL. However, in today’s NFL, three-down backs are the ones that go in the first round. Taylor hasn’t been involved in the passing game much at Wisconsin, but mostly cause he was never asked to do it. This year has been different for Taylor. He’s looked good catching the ball out of the backfield so far in 2019 and already has three receiving touchdowns. He’s making the case for RB1.
Stock Down: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Some of these prospects whose stock is falling will be in free fall based on many things, while others, like Shenault, are down only slightly. The hype for Shenault over the summer was off the charts based on his versatility and ability at and after the catch. However, he doesn’t have the top-end speed and is pretty raw before the catch. He was projected to have a monster season in 2019, and so far he hasn’t done a whole lot. Shenault has just eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown this season. I expected more usage to see development, and I haven’t seen it yet.
Stock Up: Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
Jabari Zuniga has had the recognition from the draft community since last season, but there were some concerns regarding his consistency. He has the ability to be a constant disruption with his quick first step and moves on the edge and the interior, but again, seeing it throughout the game was the kicker. This season has been a big improvement so far for Zuniga. He’s nearly halfway to his sack total from 2018 in just two games. An excellent game against Miami brought him into the spotlight and if he continues on this tear, there’s a chance he works his way to a fringe first round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Stock Down: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Everyone lauded Henderson’s ability as a cover corner, and that talent hasn’t gone away. Miami barely threw at him in the opener. The issue with Henderson is his inability and unwillingness to tackle. In a league full of the quick game and playmakers creating after the catch, tackling is a huge deal. It’s not enough these days just to be good in coverage. First round corners need to have the full package. Henderson was pegged as a first-rounder in the summer, and he’s slipping down the board now.
Stock Up: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
The performance that Joe Burrow put on on Saturday was the best performance by a quarterback in the young college football season. Burrow looked extremely calm in the pocket all night and had the poise to stand in there, take a few hits, and still deliver throws on the money. He was excellent throwing to all levels of the field, but he especially dominated in the 10-15 yard range, picking apart zones and finding open guys in between defenders. LSU stayed aggressive in the final minutes to prevent a Texas comeback, and the trust they had in Burrow to make every throw down the stretch was huge. He has now worked his way into the Senior Bowl conversation and has a signature win on his resume.
Sleeper: Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
A little more off the beaten path, Josiah Deguara probably isn’t a household name except for Cincinnati fans and draft media. However, if he shows up more in big games as he did against Ohio State, more will take notice. He is a great receiving tight end who finds open spaces.