NFL Draft 2019: Top 25 prospects available on Day 3

Deionte Thompson’s fall down draft boards over the last month has been one of the most strangest developments of the draft season. For most of the year, and up until a couple of months ago, Thompson was rated as the top safety in the draft class, and looked like a near lock to go in the first round. Even as late as a couple of weeks ago, he looked like a lock to go on the second day, likely sometime in the second round.

And now Thompson has fallen to day three, and has seen seven other safeties drafted ahead of him. The Alabama product didn’t have the best finish to the season, but he flashed the potential to be a true ball-hawking safety. He could end up being a steal on day three.

NC State’s Ryan Finley is the top ranked player available on ESPN’s big board. I’ve never been as high on Finley as others, but he undoubtedly would represent a worthwhile gamble at this stage of the draft. At 6-foot-4, Finley has the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback, and he flashed some surprising mobility with a 4.7 40-yard-dash in Indianapolis.

Finley was an accurate passer in college, completing 67% of his passes as a senior in 2018. The problem is a lack of arm strength, which is surprising for a player of his stature. He still projects as a decent backup quarterback, though, one who could be serviceable if and when he is called upon.

Miami’s Gerald Willis was one of the most productive and dominant defensive tackles in college football last year. Anchoring a stout Miami front, Willis produced 18 tackles-for-loss, including four sacks. He’s got a lot of talent, but there’s some technical issues that popped on tape that hurt him, and he won’t be able to get by in the NFL by just overpowering everyone he is up against.

There’s also the character concerns stemming from his time at Florida before he transferred to Coral Gables. He had issues with his coaches at both of his collegiate stops, something that undoubtedly has affected how NFL teams view him. He has a lot of talent, but he also has the potential to be quite the headache.

Offensive guard Dru Samia should be the third of four Oklahoma offensive linemen taken during this year’s draft. Cody Ford and Bobby Evans both were taken during the second day, and Samia and fellow guard Ben Powers should be day three selections, further emphasizing just how strong the Sooners were up front last season.

Samia is a mauler of a guard with a nasty streak in him. He’s got some technical flaws, and might not hold up well in pass protection against the top interior linemen at the next level, but he should provide a boost as a run blocker almost immediately.

Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill suffered a minor injury at the combine, but prior to that he was one of the standout performers in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.4 40-yard-dash and exceeded 40-inches with his vertical jump, displaying his elite athleticism to onlooking scouts. That, to go along with his production (3500+ rushing yards in 3 seasons), and it’s a bit of a surprise to see Hill still on the board.

Hill, like Trayveon Williams, should be a nice complimentary back for a team that already has an established starter. He’s got the ball skills to make a difference as a receiver from day one, and he has excellent vision and breakaway speed. Williams might have the higher floor, but Hill might have the highest ceiling between the two.