Quarterback: Tanner McKee, Stanford

True dropback, pocket passers like Tanner McKee may be a dying breed in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be value in him. After the consensus top five, McKee is the only quarterback I feel confident has starting potential. He played in a terrible situation at Stanford, and will benefit from moving to a pro offense. McKee is being mocked closer to Stetson Bennett than Hendon Hooker. McKee does not belong in the same conversations as the top prospects, but he has enough upside to warrant a mid-round selection and be in a tier by himself.

Running Back: Evan Hull, Northwestern

Northwestern Athletics

Evan Hull proved himself as a prolific multi-purpose back at Northwestern with 546 receiving yards in 2022. He had a stellar combine, running a 4.47 40-yard-dash, 6.9 second three-cone, and over 10 foot broad jump. He also measured in at 5’10, 210 pounds, sufficient size to be a three down runner at the next level. He was equally impressive at the Senior bowl, especially in receiving drills. Hull will make an impact immediately in a running back room but is currently being drafted as the RB19 in rookie drafts on Sleeper. He could hear his name called earlier than expected at the draft and should be going early in fantasy leagues.

Wide Receiver: Trey Palmer, Nebraska

Speedy receivers are a hot commodity in draft season, and no wideout ran faster than Trey Palmer at the NFL combine. His 4.33 40 yard dash time was faster than Jalin Hyatt and Tank Dell who are going much higher in drafts. Palmer checks off almost every box wanted from a receiver. He was productive in college, is still 21 years old, and has an ideal size/speed combo. He is a potential top-100 draft selection and could be an instant difference maker in the slot. That is tremendous value for a player going behind players like Latavius Murray and AT Perry in startup drafts, and borderline undrafted in rookie drafts.

Tight End: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan

The top-tier of the tight end class gets plenty of deserved praise, but Luke Schoonmaker needs more of a spotlight. He is an elite athlete that will be a better pro than college player. He was consistent but not flashy at Michigan. He was asked to block frequently and is one of the most experienced run blockers at the top of the group. He has the size profile to play in-line right away, but the athleticism to flex out and be a big target in the receiving game. Zack Kuntz has seen a rise in his ADP after a historic combine performance, and Schoonmaker is worthy of the same treatment. He belongs in the upper echelon of tight end prospects and should be drafted in rookie drafts.