Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into The NFL Draft?

By Jason M. Williams

NFL mock drafts have been undergoing dynamic shifts across the internet nearly every week for the past three months, ultimately trying to predict which hotshot prospect is going to land in which NFL city this spring.  Well, draft day is rapidly approaching and now it is time for COED to take a look at who’s hot and who’s not heading into this weekend’s draft.

Who’s Hot?

1. Mark Sanchez – QB, USC

All of a sudden, everyone is obsessed with USC’s Mark Sanchez.  And why shouldn’t they be?  He has the physical tools to excel in the NFL, and comes from the often-overrated pedigree of being a USC quarterback.  Yea, Carson Palmer had a few good seasons in the league, but what has Matt Leinart done?  Or John David Booty?  Oh yeah, nothing aside from scoring a ton of ridiculously hot Arizona chicks in a hot tub beer bonging festival.  For some reason, someone will overpay to grab Sanchez and we’re excited to see who that suitor is.

2.  Michael Oher – OT, Ole Miss

With the recent success of big offensive tackles going early in the first round (see: Jake Long) and producing immediate dividends for the teams who select them (see: Miami Dolphins), who doesn’t want to pony up for a massive man-beast to protect their quarterback.  That’s how Michael Oher has risen to strong consideration as a top-10 pick, something he would have never expected at the onset of the season.

3.  Clay Matthews – LB, USC

Another guy with NFL bloodlines may be getting a boost into the top half of the first round.  Similar to how Chris Long benefited from being the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long as the second overall pick last year, Clay Matthews certainly will rocket up the draft boards thanks to his uncle being Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews.

Who’s Not?

1. James Laurinaitis – LB, Ohio State

The son of Animal was all over the top 5 in mock drafts before this season across the country.  No one really understood how or why that was the case?  Finally, after a full season of football and the realization that he may have been the most overrated LB in NCAA history, we will see justification when he slips into the second round come draft day.

2. Hakeem Nicks – WR, UNC

Nicks has big talent, big hands, a big body to throw to, and unfortunately for him, a big belly.  Nicks somehow managed to gain nearly 15 pounds over a couple of weeks and showed up for workouts out of shape.  With his potential career staring him in the face, he instead decided to shove food into it, which could cause him to fall this weekend.

3.  Michael Johnson – DE, Georgia Tech

Like the Michael Johnson who dominated the 1996 Olympics in the 200 m and 400 m events, this talented defensive end is fast around the corner.  Okay, maybe not that fast.  But Johnson’s speed helped him put up gaudy numbers this season and made life miserable on quarterbacks.  However, the guys he will line up against in the NFL are much stronger and more physical, something which Johnson won’t deal well with and something that is causing teams to shy away from in the first round.  Look for him to drop to the second round.