Russell Report: Just one Gator player is likely to be drafted into the NFL
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - After months of hype and seeing Mel Kiper on ESPN about six thousand times over the last few weeks, the NFL draft will finally take place later this week. It’s crazy to think that just one Gator player, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, is likely to be drafted but that kind of shows you where things are in the Gator program right now but Pearsall should be a second-round pick and could make someone a very nice slot receiver.
Sometimes I get NFL draft fatigue but unlike some, I do like the draft process. Arguably, quarterback is the most important position in sports and there are a bunch of them who should go very early in the draft and those picks could shape the futures of a lot of franchises. But just because you are picked highly doesn’t mean you pan out. Let’s go back to the 2021 draft to make my point.
Trevor Lawrence was the top pick and while he has not been a superstar with Jacksonville he’s been good but is he the first player overall taken good? Not at this point. The New York Jets took Zach Wilson from BYU with the number two pick of the draft and, to be kind, he has been just awful, terrible and a wasted pick. Do I sound like a disgruntled Jets fan? Then, the 49ers took Trey Lance and he is no longer with them and he has not panned out either.
Justin Fields was the eleventh overall pick and he went to the Chicago Bears and he became a starter there. Whether it was because he didn’t have enough receiver help or he was not that good, he was eventually traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Finally, Mac Jones from Alabama was selected 15th by new England, and after starting there with underwhelming results, was benched and later traded. Will the 2024 quarterback class, which is perhaps more hyped than the 2021 class, suffer the same fate?
I don’t think so. I think there is real talent in this draft at quarterback and it goes past the guys who should be taken in the first round with value pick guys like Spencer Rattler of South Carolina, Michael Pratt of Tulane and maybe Jordan Travis of Florida State. But the top names I think have a real chance to be good.
Caleb Williams I think is a lock to go to the Bears and if they get him receiver help, I think this kid can be special. I also like Jayden Daniels of LSU, a lot. Florida fans saw what he can do and he might end up being the best of all of them. A couple of guys I am not sure about JJ McCarthy of Michigan and Drake Maye of North Carolina. Is McCarthy really worthy of a top-five pick and Maye just seems kind of ordinary to me. The wild card is Michael Penix of Washington. He has the most boom or bust potential of any of the quarterbacks in the first round in my view. Another guy who fits that mold is Bo Nix of Oregon but there is little doubt that teams are very excited about what this quarterback class can mean for their franchises. I’m Steve Russell, that’s the Russell Report!
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