2019 NFL Draft: Top 150 draft prospects big board, surprise in top three
By Ian Cummings
No. 31-35
35. Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye (CB5)
Amani Oruwariye has some polish to attain at the NFL level, but as an NFL Draft prospect, there’s plenty to like with Oruwariye’s combination of athleticism and length at cornerback. He can be more consistent as a tackler, but as a cover man, there’s no doubt Oruwariye can be very reliable and disruptive at the next level.
34. Iowa State WR Hakeem Butler (WR4)
Possessing one of the most enticing size-speed combinations in the 2019 NFL Draft, Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler is a pure big play threat who averaged over 20 yards per clip in his final year with the Cyclones. Butler moves incredibly well for having a 6-foot-6 frame, and he offers tantalizing upside at the NFL level. That said, Butler is strikingly raw, as he has frequent issues with his hands, route running, and releases against press coverage. Butler’s evaluation is a bit of a projection, but if he can land with the right coach, he can become a premier offensive weapon that few players will be able to stop.
33. Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr. (TE3)
Irv Smith Jr. didn’t wow the judges athletically, as many expected him to at the NFL Combine. Instead, he tested as a modest athlete. But on tape, the Smith shown is faster, quicker, and adept at direction changes. Perhaps it’s Smith’s Jordan Reed-esque attention to detail as a route runner. Perhaps it’s his high-paced game tempo. Whatever the case, Smith is a well-rounded tight end prospect who’ll contribute immediately for his team, with the ability to play on all three downs. His athletic upside is quantifiably limited, but he makes up for it with other traits.
32. Notre Dame CB Julian Love (CB4)
Julian Love produced a crazy amount in his time as a starting cornerback with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In three years and 38 games played, Love logged five interceptions and 39 pass deflections, earning a reputation as a cornerback with excellent reflexes and instincts. He’s only an average athlete, and so he’ll need to further refine his mental game to reach his maximum potential in the NFL. But in his current form, Love is an impact defender with a chance to start for a long time.
31. Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown (WR3)
The stocky counterpart of D.K. Metcalf in Ole Miss, A.J. Brown brings plenty to like as an NFL Draft prospect on his own. Brown is a very precise route runner who knows how to create separation, and once in open space, he has very good run-after-catch ability. An average athlete, Brown will have to win with the little details, and not natural talent. But he’s already shown himself to have a propensity for those little details, and with his other positive traits, he projects well as a starting NFL wideout.