Opening night is always the NFL Draft’s marquee event, though admittedly less so this year with commissioner Roger Goodell conducting it from his basement. The first round may be more prestigious, but Day 2 of the draft can often be just as fruitful. Miles Sanders and D.K. Metcalf didn’t hear their names called in the first round last year (neither did Metcalf’s Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown), but that didn’t stop them from making immediate NFL impacts.
With no Day-1 selections to speak of, the Bears, Bills, Colts, Texans and Steelers will be looking to strike second-round gold in this year’s draft. Luckily for those five teams, there should still be plenty of talent available, particularly on the offensive side with Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins expected to headline this year’s crop of Day-2 standouts.
“He’s got first-round talent,” Brian Baldinger said of Dobbins during his appearance Wednesday on You Better You Bet, hosted by Nick Kostos and Ross Tucker of RADIO.COM. “Dobbins is a guy who is going to be a Day-1 starter in the NFL.” An All-American for the Buckeyes in 2019, the 5’9,” 209-pound Dobbins rumbled to 2,003 rushing yards during his breakout junior campaign, tying him with Big-Ten rival Jonathan Taylor for the nation’s third-highest rushing output.
Baldinger—one of several guests YBYB is rolling out in a loaded week of draft analysis—sees a similarly bright future for Florida State’s Cam Akers, another ball-carrier who figures to find a home in Round 2. “I think Cam Akers is going be a great player in this league,” said Baldinger, a frequent Entercom contributor who also covers the Big 12 for Fox and provides breakdowns for NFL.com. “He played behind a horrible offensive line at Florida State, but he’s got a great burst.” Baldinger also earmarked TCU corner Jeff Gladney and SMU slot receiver James Proche as potential NFL difference-makers while saving his highest praise for hard-hitting Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
“Nobody can tell me that Jordyn Brooks isn’t the best comp for Bobby Wagner,” said Baldinger. “I think he’s going to be a really great pro.” Comparing a raw 20-something to a perennial All-Pro may seem like a leap, though Brooks and Wagner do share one important trait—both were coached by Matt Wells, who spent six years atop Utah State’s chain of command before last year’s move to Lubbock.
Baldy’s interview with Ross and Nick produced plenty of other fascinating nuggets, including a surprise first-round target for the Lions. The You Better You Bet crew also visited with linebacker-turned radio host Channing Crowder of WQAM, who thinks the Dolphins will address their quarterback need early in next week’s draft. As always, you can listen to the podcast in its entirety on the RADIO.COM app. In fact, you should probably do that right now.
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