We’re all well aware by now who the preeminent crop of talent is that lies at the top of the draft. With that said, let’s take a peek at some of the underachieving draft targets who may take a tumble come draft weekend.
Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
This is the most obvious one after his lackluster combine performance. A 5.85 40-yard dash opened eyes at just how slow he really plays. 14 reps on the bench at 345 lbs is completely unacceptable.
On tape, he blocks very lackadaisical. He misses too many defenders on blitzes and quits easily. Brown stepped up his game against better opposition during moments but relied on Baker Mayfield and his running backs to bail him out too often.
Da’Shawn Hand, DL, Alabama
The #1 recruit in the 2014 class didn’t dominate with all the hype coming out of high school. He merely garnered 3 sacks in a 2017 National Championship season. In the summer before he became a senior, Hand was arrested for a DUI. On film, Hand looks sluggish and gets man-handled at the point of attack. The ex-Bama defender never materialized into a force and won’t do much more in the pros. Hand reminds me of another 5-star Eddie Vanderdoes because he just takes up space on the d-line and not much else.
Arden Key, Edge, LSU
One of the most polarizing figures in this process, Key is way too hot and cold on the field. He only captured the quarterback 4 times last season, compared to 12 as a sophomore. He’s missed time at LSU due to a suspension, injuries, and problems with staying sober.
Key is a guy that you have to keep eyes on at all times. Just imagine if he gets his hands on the unrelenting spotlight that the NFL can provide for some who don’t know how to handle themselves. His maturity is similar to Aldon Smith’s and we all learned how that turned out.
Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State
Wildly inconsistent numbers throughout his ASU journey, the youngster never broke 700 yards rushing while in Tempe. He’ll be remembered for his eight touchdowns in one contest against Texas Tech and their always soft defense. Ballage wasn’t asked to block much based on the Sun Devils system but needs to refine his technique. His teammate, Demario Richard excelled as a true #1 rock runner in Kalen’s absence off the gridiron. It has to make the hierarchies in the league wary as to why Ballage didn’t excel given the immense gifts he owns.
Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida
Callaway did not play in 2017 due to multiple drug possessions. He admitted that he was “so stoned” in court when it came to sexual charges being waged against him. He’s got major red flags that will cause personnel to take him off their boards despite his upside. It almost certainly is a guarantee that the Florida Gator will become a bust once his name is called.
These are just five pivotal names that could have a devastating weekend if they don’t get the early call that they expect. The Raiders would be wise to separate from these eligible draftees because of the volume of question marks each brings to the table.
Until next time, Ramble On Raider Nation!