Mel Kiper Jr. projects Miami Canes NFL Draft Day-3 bonanza. Eight likely to be picked
The draft-eligible Miami Hurricanes will likely be sitting and waiting while names are being reeled off during the first two days of the NFL Draft on April 23 and 24, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. But all eight who were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine will probably be chosen in the fourth-through-seventh rounds on April 25, the final day of the draft.
I asked Kiper a question on his latest media teleconference Wednesday.
“You already told us last month about Miami’s underclassmen and how you think they’ll do in the draft. What about the four Miami seniors or graduate transfers: wide receiver K.J. Osborn, linebacker Shaq Quarterman, linebacker Mike Pinckney and defensive end Trevon Hill? Which do you most strongly project will be drafted, around what rounds for each and why?
“And which risk not getting drafted and why in those cases?”
Kiper’s reply: “Yeah, interesting questions, because they’re all different.
“I think when you look at Quarterman, he’s got the career production. I think he’s got a chance at worst to be a backup/special teams guy. I have a fourth/fifth-round grade on Quarterman.
“I think Hill is an intriguing guy because you expected better pass rush than you got. From what we saw at Virginia Tech he showed flashes of that. So I think pass rushers are at a premium [and] you certainly look at him early to mid-Day Three.
“I think K.J. Osborn’s return skills were good. I like what I saw with him when he was at Buffalo. He’s a Day Three guy as well.
“And then Pinckney is more of a late Day Three.
“But of the group that you mentioned, Osborn, because of the versatility in the return game, Hill because of the pass rush potential. He’s not there yet but he’s got potential. And Quarterman is kind of the veteran who has been around for a long time and you’ve always seen him. He didn’t really elevate to an elite level, but I would say he’s the kind of guy you like to have on your football team.
“They’re all different, but the three that I mentioned ahead of Pinckney are guys that I would say go in that fourth- to sixth-round area.”
In addition to the three upper classmen, Kiper also told the Miami Herald last month that he believes underclassmen Jonathan Garvin (defensive end), DeeJay Dallas (running back), Jeff Thomas (receiver) and Trajan Bandy (cornerback) will likely be taken at various points of the final day.
Kiper also mentioned late last month that Garvin would be the one with a slight chance of getting to the third round April 24, but “I don’t think that’s going to happen, though.’’
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 12:46 PM.
