With the NFL Draft set to begin Thursday night and run through the weekend, Knights247 shares its projections on which round each UCF prospect will be taken.
It’s expected to be one of the best overall drafts in program history with potentially six UCF players being drafted. The 2018 NFL Draft begins on Thursday and will continue through Saturday.
Here are our projections, with a short explanation of why we see each player falling where we have them projected.
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CB Mike Hughes: This time last year, Hughes wasn’t even on UCF campus. Now a year later, he is one of the most explosive prospects in this year’s draft. Listed at 5’10’’ 189 lbs, Hughes is a little short but is strong. Hughes tracks and catches the football like a wide receiver. In addition, ProFootballFocus rated Hughes as the highest graded returner in the 2018 NFL Draft. Although he’s only played two full seasons of college football, Mike Hughes has a lot of upside as a cornerback and a talented kick returner. We see Hughes going towards the end of the first round.
Projection: 1st round.
Pick: Green Bay Packers at 14 or the New England Patriots at 23.
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WR Tre’Quan Smith: There’s no denying Tre’Quan Smith’s ability to go up and over opponents and make the catch. According to ProFootballFocus, Smith leads all receivers in this year’s draft in terms of highest passer rating when targeted. One the best things Smith does in addition to catching the 50/50 ball, is extending plays as a downfield blocker. Smith is a well-built pass catcher and should be gone before the middle of the third round.
Projection: 3rd round.
Pick: Oakland Raiders at 75 or the Cincinnati Bengals at 77
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LB Shaquem Griffin: The best story of the NFL Draft is Shaquem Griffin. He continues to prove the doubters wrong and his story has taken the nation by storm. He is a dangerous pass-rusher and can play immediately on Special Teams for any squad. As a linebacker, teams will have the ability to develop him into a Sunday starter. Any team that drafts him will add not only a determined playmaker but a leader in the locker room. Griffin ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any linebacker since 2003, so his speed alone is impressive. We think Shaquem can be taken as high as late-3rd round by the New Orleans Saints who he met with, but expect him to be off the board in the early part of the fourth round.
Projection: 4th round.
Pick: Green Bay Packers at 101 or the Seattle Seahawks at 120
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TE Jordan Akins: One of the more intriguing draft stories, this former MLB draft pick, will be a 26-year old rookie in the NFL next year. He has good size and has great speed as a route runner. Although his age might be a concern for NFL teams, Jordan Akins has the skill set to make some athletic catches as he showed-off at the Senior Bowl. Another concern is his blocking ability. Despite the concerns, Akins is easily a top-five tight end prospect in this year’s draft.
Projection: 4th round.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs at 122 or Jacksonville Jaguars at 129
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G Aaron Evans: Coming off of a great senior season, Evans had surgery to repair two herniated discs and missed the Peach Bowl. However, now healthy, Evans has a good chance to make an NFL roster. With experience at both left and right tackles, Evans can provide depth on the offensive line.
Projection: 7th round.
Pick: Indianapolis Colts at 221 or Los Angeles Chargers at 251
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DL Antonio Guerad: The defensive lineman participated in the NFLPA game and looked good. Guerad was a big part of the Knights’ success in 2017 and has the chance to land on an NFL team. According to his agent, he had a good workout at the Jaguar local training camp. However, he is an average pass rusher and has dealt with off-the-field issues. Likely will end up signing an undrafted free agent deal.
Projection: 7th round/Undrafted.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys at 236 or Jacksonville Jaguars at 247
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DL Jamiyus Pittman: After an impressive senior year, Pittman was named first-team all-AAC. He produced consistent pressure throughout his career and has potential. Pittman offers leadership qualities that any NFL team would want in its locker room. Pittman’s 25 reps on the bench press at UCF Pro Day would have tied him for 19th among defensive linemen at the Combine. We expect him to go undrafted but has a strong shot at making an NFL roster.
Projection: 7th round/Undrafted.
Pick: Oakland Raiders at 228 or 255 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Other UCF Knights we expect to get an NFL camp invite:
TE Jordan Franks
LB Chequan Burkett
DL Seyvon Lowry
