PITTSBURGH — Withthe NFL drafthours away, the inevitable occurrence of high risers and steep fallers is unfolding before our eyes.
Every drafthas its share of surprises, and this one is no different.
Here are three playerswhose names could get called far earlierthan originally thought:
It’s almost laughable that a player regarded as the best prospect in the entire draft would be considered a riser at this stage. But that is how it goes these days when you’re talking about a running back.
The way that position is viewed in today’s analytically driven world, teams are no longer keen on drafting them in the top 10, let alone the top three. That isn’t taking anything away from Love, who is a one-man wrecking crew as a runner and a receiver; it’s just the nature of the beast.
Simply put, the positional value just isn’t there anymore, compared with years ago when it was standard practice to draft a running back within the first three picks.
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Love might buck that recent trend, though, with his Superman capabilities just too enticing in a draft that isn’t deep at quarterback and isn’t expected to produce an elite, can’t-miss player at edge rusher, cornerback or wide receiver.
It’s why the link between Love and the Cardinals, who pick third in the first round, seems to get stronger by the day. If not them, the Titans at No. 4 and the Giants at No. 5 are also considered strong possibilities. That is a far cry from a couple of months ago, when Love was projected to get selected at the bottom of the top 10, if not lower.
This one has been brewing for a little while, with the splash Thieneman made with an epic athletic performance at the NFL scouting combine catching everyone’s eyes and forcing them to go back to watch the game film.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
