In the countdown to next Thursday's opening round, I'm looking at my list of most intriguing NFL Draft prospects. These are the guys who aren't sure-fire stars, but instead have big potential, mixed with some questions. So here's Nos. 10-6, with the top-five coming in a few days.
No. 10: Jordan Davis, Georgia DL -- Davis is pegged as a mid-first round pick, and something about that doesn't sit right. He was the best player on the best defense in modern college football history. He finished in the top-10 in Heisman voting as a down lineman, and his Combine stats were the stuff of instant legend. How can there be 15-20 picks better than him? At 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, he's an absolute tank. In Indianapolis, Davis had the best broad jump ever for a defensive lineman. He had the fastest 40-yard dash (4.78) for anybody over 310 pounds, ever. He completed the second-best vertical jump for his position.
His natural gifts alone make him perhaps the most fascinating prospect this year. Every scout knows he's a lock to stop the run, often compared to Haloti Ngata. The question is if he becomes a pass-rushing threat -- in which case, he'd be an Aaron Donald-type force. The questions surround his commitment to the game and staying in playing weight. He showed up to Georgia weighing in at 380. But a man who anchored a national title defense that allowed seven points per game and had a better Combine than JJ Watt? Color me intrigued.
No. 9: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh QB -- Most believe he's the most pro-ready signal-caller in this draft class, and there's certainly some things to like about him. He's a winner, having tallied 11 victories last season, the most by a Pittsburgh quarterback since Dan Marino. He has no ego, rising from a three-star recruit to an ACC champion, so work ethic and passion is ingrained in his play. He has an aggressive mentality, which helps him make something out of nothing. But taking some of his chances can also hurt him, too.
He'll try to make throws his arm can't cover. He'll take off and run, unafraid of contact with guys far bigger, which leaves him vulnerable to injuries. And his mobility can create plays, but there's only so many collisions you want your starting quarterback to take. The big debate point about Pickett is his hand size, and when focusing on them, they do look small. But he's made plays and won games in cold weather, so it's an overblown concern. Pickett has been described to me as a second or third-rounder, who'll be drafted during the first because of this weak class.
No. 8: Derek Stingley, LSU DB -- The decline of his draft stock has been a combination of incredible expectations and injury history. After his freshman season, Stingley was considered by some as a first-overall pick. But following LSU's title in 2019, he played in only 10 games over two seasons. He has all of the makings of a shut-down defensive back at the NFL level. He's fast, agile, lengthy, and explosive. He has an attack mentality on the field, and blanketed everything thrown his way in the best conference in the country in 2019. But can you trust his body to hold up to the NFL wear and tear? And will he battle through the ups and downs of being a professional corner? There's huge risk-reward potential. Most observers don't think he'll drop below the Vikings at 12. Could Minnesota get a top-three talent 10 spots lower?
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No. 7: Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati CB -- The man they call "Sauce" is as complete a corner as we've seen in years. He's long, nimble, aggressive, and accomplished. Somehow, he never allowed one touchdown in his collegiate career. Watch film on Gardner, and you see him explode to the ball, and use his long, rangy arms to defend an array of passes. Cincinnati's defense was one of the best in the nation, and it kept them in the CFP semifinals against Alabama. Gardner probably needs to put some weight on his frame or he'll be outmuscled off the line and in the air by bigger NFL wideouts. But, he has all the features of a shutdown corner, like Jalen Ramsey or Stephon Gilmore.
No. 6: Jameson Williams, Alabama WR -- Before the national title game, he was almost a guarantee to be the first wideout taken. Even after his ACL injury against Georgia, he still might be. While his rehab might keep him out until mid-season, scouts are drooling over Williams' speed. He might be a pragmatic pick for a team with two selections in the first round -- like the Texans at 13. But one CBS Sports mock has him going even higher, to the Falcons at No. 8.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told me he wouldn't be surprised if Williams goes inside the top-10, despite his injury. "Every year, we see these wideouts with big-time speed get pushed up the board," Jeremiah said. "And this kid isn't just a pure speed guy. He's got a lot of other things. He's really tough, he's physical. He's got a chance to go all the way up there. And if he was the 10th pick in the draft, it wouldn't shock me. He's got a lot of buzz around the league."