Finding Top Players In All 7 Rounds Is Key To Draft Success

The NFL Draft is not about reaching for talented college football players and hoping they will succeed at the next level. Scouts and general managers who do that are surely on their last legs and waiting to get fired.

Drafting correctly is a science, and there are players in each round who are going to be successful in the NFL.

In this piece we look at one player from each round who should end up having successful rookie seasons and solid careers if they can stay injury free.

First round, WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, 6-1, 203

Egbuka is likely to get selected with the No. 25 pick or later, but he should be successful right from the start. Egbuka is a highly skilled receiver who runs patterns precisely, can set up opposing defensive backs and will make the tough catch in traffic. More than any of the skills that are needed to play the position, Egbuka is a team player who makes everyone else around him better. That may not seem like an appropriate assessment for a rookie, but he was like that as a freshman with the Buckeyes and those qualities will surface in the NFL as well. He caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 TDs during Ohio State’s championship season last year.

Second round, TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami, 6-5, 249

Arroyo started only one year with the Hurricanes, but he displayed the skills needed to be productive right from the start. He led all FBS tight ends in yards per catch, averaging 16.9 yards every time he caught the ball. Arroyo is a fantastic athlete with the ability to break long plays on a consistent basis. He needs to fine tune his route running and his blocking, but there’s little doubt he can show off his talent and become an impact player.

Third round, CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, 6-0, 193

Morrison is a cornerback with first-round talent but shoulder and hip injuries during his junior season allowed him to play just six games in 2024. That will scare off a number of teams, but Morrison plays with a very high skill level. He has excellent speed, can stay with top receivers and make plays on the ball. He had six interceptions in the 2022 season and returned one of them for a touchdown. Morrison has an excellent feel for what the offense wants to accomplish and his ability to anticipate the next play could make him special.

Fourth round, OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut, 6-8, 303

Lundt is a player who demonstrated improvement on a year-by-year basis throughout his career with the Huskies. He is best-suited as a right tackle, a position he played in all four of his college seasons. He was excellent in his senior year, dominating as a run blocker not allowing a single sack. He has superb feet and can stay with athletic and explosive pass rushers. He also understands blocking angles and has a chance to dominate as a run blocker.

Fifth round, QB Will Howard, Ohio State, 6-4, 233

Howard has the ideal build for the position and he clearly has the leadership and mental makeup to be successful at the next level. He transferred to Ohio State and led the Buckeyes to the national championship in his only season in Columbus after four solid years at Kansas State. He was dynamic during Ohio State’s four-game postseason run, completing 75.2 percent of his passes, averaging 287.5 passing yards per game, throwing 8 TD passes with just 2 interceptions. He played his best football in Ohio State’s most impactful games and that stands out to NFL scouts and coaches.

Sixth round, RB Jaydon Blue, Texas, 5-9, 192

Blue is not going to be an every-down back in the NFL, but he has the explosiveness and quickness to become a home run hitter when he gets the ball in his hands. He doubled his workload in the 2024 season with 134 carries for 730 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is also one of the best receivers at his position, catching 42-368-6. He played behind Bijan Robinson early in his career and ultimately became a game-changing weapon for the Longhorns.

Seventh round, S Dante Trader, Maryland, 5-11, 197

Trader will go later in the draft because he does not have ideal size for the position. Most teams want bigger safeties, but Trader makes up for it with his athleticism and instincts. He has played lacrosse throughout the majority of his athletic career and that has helped with his immediate reactions to the play in front of him. Trader’s aggressiveness makes him a notable player.