Best picks from the NFL draft

Every NFL draft, talented players make their way from the NCAA to the NFL. This is a list of players that I believe will have big impacts on their respective teams this upcoming season. Chase Young is obviously a generational talent and could be the defensive rookie of the year, but he was not the focus here. Here are my picks of players I believe will have great rookie seasons and turn a lot of heads! 

Xavier McKinney 

McKinney is a strong, powerful, and agile tackler and can play multiple positions, he can blitz, play man and zone very well. Although McKinney is an elite player his position in the draft dropped to the New York Giants at pick 36. The  main reason for this, was because of his disappointing combine. McKinney ran a 4.63, 40-yard dash which is disappointing for him because he has been known as a great athlete with a combination of strength and speed. The New York Giants were quick to choose Xavier McKinney after he slid down to the second round. McKinney played three seasons at Alabama, and in 13 games this season McKinney recorded 95 total tackles, 3 sacks and 3 interceptions along with 1 defensive touchdown. After some impressive years at Alabama, Xavier McKinney should be considered a deal for a team that needs a DB. 

Tristan Wirfs 

The most athletic tackle in the class, Tristan Wirfs was picked at number 13 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His mix of size and speed are what made Wirfs jump up the board to Tampa Bay. When a team brings in a star quarterback like Tom Brady it is necessary to protect him as best you can, and they hope will do that with Wirfs. Wirfs had the fastest 40-yard dash time among all O-line as well as the highest vertical jump, and this makes Wirfs a more intriguing prospect because of his athleticism. The combine proved that, making Tristan Wirfs a round one lock and a probable top 10 pick. In fact, many believed the Giants could even take him at 4. Going to Tampa to play with an experienced quarterback will be a better situation for a young tackle than playing with a second-year player. As an athletic pass protector, he will be a perfect fit with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. 

Julian Okwara 

An athletic and explosive pass rusher, Okwara could end up being a valuable player for the Detroit Lions. In the past two seasons Okwara has dealt with some injuries most prominently the broken fibula. This could have been the reason Okwara was still available with the 67^th pick. Another reason for this could have been that because of his injury he was not able to take part in the combine. Okwara’s skill was shown at Notre Dame and in just 9 games he posted 19 tackles, seven of which were for a loss, to go with 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. His explosive first step as well as his overall strength are factors that make him a prospect with such a high ceiling. Skill development is crucial for Okwara to become a deal in the draft, he can make big plays to amp up his team, but it is necessary to make good plays throughout the course of a game. If Okwara does not excel, at very least he will be a big playmaker off the bench, which any NFL team could use. 

Anfernee Jennings 

A versatile linebacker, Jennings has been played at many various positions. He can play on the outside, as a pass rusher or even as a defensive end. He has great hands, able to push off lineman and can counter easily and this makes him more usable as a pass rusher, but he can also cover the air. His biggest weakness is his first step where he sometimes is a second slow. At Alabama, this season Jennings had 83 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss, but his stats did not end there, and he recorded 8 sacks and an interception. Although Jennings showed skill at Alabama, he did not take part in the combine leaving some questions unanswered. This could have played a factor in where he was drafted. After losing a key linebacker like Kyle Van-Noy, a replacement player is what they needed, and they hope Anfernee Jennings could develop into a quality starter. A player who can get at the quarterback and has the skill to drop back into coverage. 

CeeDee Lamb 

The discussion between Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb has been going on this entire season, but who really is better. Lamb was selected 17^th by the Dallas Cowboys while Jeudy went 15^th to the Denver Broncos. It is not skill that separates these two, it is the competitiveness of Lamb that every player wants. Although Jeudy is a better route runner and is better at creating separation, Lamb is simply better at making catches and has the attitude he can make plays against any DB. This year at Oklahoma, Lamb had 14 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, Lamb had 1327 receiving yards which was 6^th most out of all receivers. The passion and competitiveness of Lamb give him the ability to make plays down the stretch of games. He is undoubtably a star in the making that will make the Dallas Cowboys a much tougher team. If this team can find a way to add Jamal Adams, they could shoot right into Super Bowl contention, a perfect place for a young receiver to thrive. 

Joe Burrow 

The obvious first pick in the draft, Joe Burrow is a generational talent from LSU. Burrow threw 60 passing touchdowns last year, the most ever by a NCAA player, and this highlights his outright talent. He threw the most touchdowns with the best pass completion percentage out of all quarterbacks as well at 76.3%. He will be a superstar player for years to come for the Bengals and an amazing player for a struggling organization to have. Burrow should step in as a day 1 starter and will prove all the critics wrong. His combination of being somewhat of a dual threat and being able to throw the ball at an extremely high level are what make him a perfect player for the Cincinnati Bengals team. The Heisman trophy winner had 5 rushing touchdowns making him able to do more than just throw the football. His huge step from Junior to Senior year was a difference of 42 touchdowns. an exceptionally large amount. Burrow will have to prove himself this season but has the skill to make plays and score in the NFL. 

This article is original content published by sports writer Matthew White. Please feel free to link to and discuss this article but do not copy content.

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