The NFL Draft is almost here. After months of mock drafts, reporting, and debate, we are skipping the traditional projections and handing out a set of superlatives instead. The goal is simple: highlight a mix of players who could outperform expectations, underwhelm, or fall somewhere in between. The draft always delivers surprises, and while we won’t predict every one, this should frame what to watch for when things start moving on Thursday night.
Derek Stingley Jr. Award
For a preseason top prospect with an uneven final year who still goes higher than expected.
Stingley had one of the most dominant freshman seasons ever by a non-quarterback. Starting at corner as a true freshman in the SEC is rare, as many eventual first-round picks do not see the field early due to the position’s learning curve. He was a consensus All-American that year and followed it with another first-team All-American season as a sophomore, despite missing time.
Entering his draft-eligible junior season, Stingley was widely expected to be the first defensive back selected in the 2022 draft. Instead, an uneven year, limited to just three starts, raised questions about his consistency and durability. At the same time, Sauce Gardner was emerging as a top prospect at Cincinnati, making it somewhat surprising when Stingley was selected ahead of him. That decision stood out even more given that Stingley became one of the highest-drafted cornerbacks in NFL history. Both players have developed into high-level professionals, but Stingley has validated the upside that drove his draft position.
Brad: Kendrick Faulk has several traits teams value, including youth, leadership, and production despite a limited supporting cast around him. Some experts have him pegged late first round, but it would not be surprising to see him come off the board much earlier, potentially inside the top 12.
Like Stingley, Faulk’s evaluation depends on how teams weigh traits versus consistency. If you place a premium on power-based pressure, similar to the impact Aidan Hutchinson generates with his bull rush, Faulk has a legitimate case as the top EDGE in this class.
Emile: Jermod McCoy is worth considering, but injury-related slides do not quite fit this category, especially with reports suggesting his stock is already trending downward.
So I’ll go with Kayden Proctor instead. His junior season was widely viewed as inconsistent, with stretches of tape that raise legitimate concerns. However, his size and athleticism remain rare, and those traits will keep him high on some NFL draft boards.
It would not be surprising if evaluators come away from his recent film with significant reservations. It also would not be surprising if a team still selects him in the top 20 based on long-term upside.
Sam LaPorta Award
For a tight end whose value exceeds his college production.
Tight end evaluation often leans too heavily on receiving numbers, even though the position demands far more at the NFL level. Players who can block, adjust, and stay on the field in multiple situations tend to outperform expectations.
Brad: LaPorta is one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways, similar to how Mookie Betts contributes across phases in baseball, makes that archetype more valuable than the pure receiving tight end.
That leads to Eli Raridon. He has a strong case to be the top tight end in this class. His blocking ability, combined with functional receiving skills, should allow him to see the field early at a position where rookies often struggle to earn snaps.
A common mistake in tight end evaluation is treating the position like wide receiver. College usage, including wider alignments and more vertical routes, can inflate production in ways that do not translate cleanly to the NFL. As LaPorta has shown, tight ends who change direction well and operate in tight spaces tend to outperform those who simply test well athletically.
Depending on landing spot, Raridon has a path not just to early contribution, but to being one of the most valuable players to come out of Notre Dame in this class.
Emile: I agree that Raridon is the clear choice here. I don’t feel like I can go with players like Eli Stowers, Kenyon Sadiq, or Oscar Delp, whose production profiles are more aligned with traditional expectations.
Raridon offers a balanced combination of receiving ability and blocking, which should translate well to the next level. While he may not be the top tight end in this class, he has a clear path to becoming one of its more valuable players and contributing early in his career.
Howie Roseman Award
Team most likely to make a significant draft-night trade.
Howie Roseman, Executive VP of the Philadelphia Eagles, has built a reputation for aggressive draft movement, making this a fitting category for identifying potential activity.
Brad: Dallas stands out as a likely candidate to make a move. It may not be a jump into the top three, but a move into the top 10 feels plausible depending on how the board develops.
Emile: Arizona is another strong possibility. The Cardinals are in a position where moving down while adding assets could accelerate their rebuild. Whether the trade partner is Dallas or another aggressive team, this is a situation to monitor.
AJ Epenesa Award
For a player with a wide range of draft outcomes.
Every draft has players who could land anywhere depending on how teams value their profile. AJ Epenesa was a clear example, with projections ranging widely before he ultimately settled in the second round.
Brad: I’ll go with Jacob Rodriguez. Age tends to matter less for linebackers than other positions, but Rodriguez is pushing that threshold if he ends up being selected in the first round.
The closest comparison is Jack Campbell, who went 18th overall to Detroit in 2023. Even that comp feels generous. Campbell was younger, significantly bigger, and more productive in college.
Opinions on Rodriguez vary widely. Some have him going in the late teens, while others place him in the middle rounds. A more realistic outcome is likely somewhere in the second or third round, similar to where Epenesa ultimately landed despite a wide range of pre-draft speculation.
Emile: I’m going with Jermod McCoy here. He has been consistently mentioned in the top 15 and is often described as a top-tier talent in the class. However, there is growing uncertainty surrounding his evaluation.
McCoy is recovering from a torn ACL, and recent reports suggest teams may have broader concerns about the overall condition of his knee. As more information has emerged, his draft outlook has become increasingly difficult to pin down. A first-round selection once seemed likely; now, a fall into the second or even third round is more plausible.
Still, it only takes one team willing to accept the risk. McCoy’s talent and sophomore-year tape could push him into the top 20, while medical concerns could cause a significant slide. At this point, neither outcome would be surprising.
Nick Emmanwori Award
For a player whose landing spot will significantly impact perception.
Scheme and coaching context can drastically shape how a player is viewed early in their career. Nick Emmanwori had a strong rookie season, and some have questioned how he fell to the second round. That criticism feels overstated. His role allowed him to play with relatively limited responsibility compared to other positions, particularly in match coverage near the line of scrimmage.
If Emmanwori had been asked to operate as a true deep safety, his transition may not have been as smooth, and his early playing time could have been more limited. His success reflects both his ability and a role that maximized his strengths.
Brad: Eli Heidenreich is one of the more intriguing players in this class, but his projection is highly dependent on role. There is a real range of outcomes, from a meaningful contributor to a player who struggles to find consistent touches.
While he is listed as a fullback, his best fit at the next level is likely as a satellite or third-down back. His background in a flexbone offense may complicate that transition, but his speed stands out and gives him a chance to carve out a role in space.
There are still questions about how quickly he can contribute, particularly in pass protection, an area he was not heavily utilized in at Navy. Because of that, his early playing time may depend on how a team chooses to deploy him.
The best fit is likely with an offense that emphasizes mobility at quarterback and operates out of spread or pistol concepts. In the right system, Heidenreich has the tools to become a situational weapon.
Emile: Kyle Louis is one of the more interesting schematic fits in this class. His impact will depend heavily on the creativity of the defensive staff that drafts him, particularly how he is deployed early in his career.
Though listed as a linebacker, Louis spent significant time playing in nickel and brings experience across multiple roles, including safety and linebacker. That versatility gives him a pathway to contribute, even if he is not used as a traditional off-ball linebacker.
His skill set should translate to the NFL, with size remaining the primary concern. In the right system, one that is willing to use him creatively and lean into his versatility, Louis has a strong chance to develop into a valuable piece.
Connor Cook Award
For the strangest pre-draft narrative.
Pre-draft cycles often produce unusual storylines that influence perception in unpredictable ways. Connor Cook entered the 2016 NFL Draft as the second-ranked quarterback after leading Michigan State to the College Football Playoff. Despite that résumé, he fell to the fourth round, with six quarterbacks selected ahead of him.
The reasons for his slide were among the weirdest in recent memory. Cook was not elected a team captain, which raised concerns for some NFL teams. That, combined with reported personality questions, off-field narratives, and scrutiny surrounding his leadership, contributed to his drop to pick No. 100.
Thus, this award is meant for the player with the most unusual or difficult-to-explain pre-draft narrative.
Emile: Jordyn Tyson has had one of the more unusual pre-draft processes in this class. His potential landing spots have fluctuated significantly, from the back of the first round to the middle, and now into the top five following the Giants trade.
What makes it more notable is the inconsistency in the reporting around him. At different points, concerns have centered on a hamstring injury from last season, questions about toughness, and his ability to consistently create separation. Typically, that kind of uncertainty leads to a decline in stock.
Instead, Tyson’s trajectory has moved in the opposite direction. Despite the shifting concerns, his draft position has continued to rise. His talent is evident, but the path leading into the draft has been difficult to reconcile.
Brad: Kadyn Proctor is also difficult to place in this cycle. His rise up draft boards has been abrupt, moving from late first-round during the season to a potential top-five selection.
It is not immediately clear what has driven that shift. While there have been reports pointing to improved maturity and development, that alone typically does not account for such a significant change in evaluation. The jump raises questions about how teams are weighing recent information against a larger body of work.
Proctor’s talent is undeniable, and his ceiling remains high. Still, the disconnect between earlier projections and his current range makes him one of the more difficult players to evaluate in this class.
Ladd McConkey Award
For a non-first-round player who will produce immediately.
Every year, players outside the first round make an immediate impact, often in ways that feel predictable in hindsight.
Brad: DeAngelo Ponds stands out. While there was consideration for players at more premium positions, determining which tackles or edge rushers fall outside the first round is less clear.
Ponds stood out with a highly productive season at Indiana. There are legitimate questions about his physical profile, but cornerback is a position where production and instincts can translate quickly. Given how difficult it is to find reliable contributors at the position, Ponds has a strong case to outperform his draft slot.
Emile: I really like Germie Bernard for my choice here, as he’s a player whose game should translate quickly to early NFL production.
He does not rely on rare physical traits, but his overall skill set stands out. Bernard combines a high football IQ with strong ball skills, quickness, and a clear understanding of route concepts. That allows him to consistently create separation and operate effectively across different alignments.
There may not be a receiver in this class who is more reliable at getting open and securing the ball. That reliability gives him a strong chance to outperform his draft position and contribute early in his career.
Kyle Trask Award
For the quarterback likely to be drafted higher than expected.
Quarterback demand often leads to players being selected earlier than their overall evaluation might suggest.
Emile: I have to go with Carson Beck. I also thought about Cade Klubnik, but frankly, I’m not even sure he gets drafted at this point.
Beck just doesn’t do much for me, especially if it means spending a third-round pick on him. That’s a tough investment for a player who feels pretty limited. He’s older, the arm strength is questionable, and he doesn’t consistently stand out as a pocket passer.
I’m not entirely sure what the argument is for taking him early on Day 2, although clearly there are people making that case.
If you’re going to take a swing at quarterback in that range, I’d much rather bet on someone like Taylen Green. For a team looking for a bridge option, there’s at least a case for leaning into the athletic upside and seeing what it looks like over a full season.
Brad: Ty Simpson feels like the obvious answer here, but I think that’s a bit too easy, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up going in the first round. I don’t view him as negatively as most, so even without that, he wouldn’t be my pick.
I also think Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier make sense relative to where they’re expected to be drafted, especially in that third- to fourth-round range.
That leaves Diego Pavia and Carson Beck. Pavia is the more extreme case. If he’s drafted as anything more than a depth or special teams option, it becomes difficult to justify the pick, regardless of where it happens.
Beck could also fit depending on how early he’s taken. If a team spends a top-100 pick on him though, their GM should be fired immediately.
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