The strength of an NFL draft class is often determined by the depth found among its second tier of prospects.
While there will be 31 first-round selections this year, 31 first-round talents aren't available. This setup is typical. Teams generally give 15 to 20-ish prospects opening-round grades.
Bleacher Report's Scouting Department ranks 21 prospects with solid first-round grades, though the group doesn't take into account such things as individual scheme fits or behind-the-scenes information (interviews, medicals, etc.) that NFL organizations value but don't make public knowledge.
Beyond those initial 21, a total of 66 prospects are graded as Day 2 options. Clearly, those in the latter portions of the opening frame fall in line with those taken in the second or even third rounds. As such, more fluidity exists among those players regarding where they land.
To determine which prospects should be considered unexpected options to become first-round picks, the consensus big board from NFL Mock Draft Database provided a baseline. Each player included can be found outside the top 31 and lacks a first-round peak projection.
To take this a step further, any player who appeared in the first round among B/R Scouting Dept.'s mock drafts will also not be included, nor will those generating heavy first-round buzz in general, a la Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.
So, who could find their way into the opening frame even though they've never truly been considered top guys?
WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
The wide receiver class is underwhelming, at least when it comes to solid first-round options.
"One thing has become clear on calls around league past couple weeks: NFL isn't nearly as high on this year's WR class as media," Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy tweeted.
"Frequently seeing 4-5 wideouts in mocks. Have spoken to numerous teams that have only one first-round grade at the position. That guy is [Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba]."
The biggest concern with this group is the lack of size found among their number.
USC's Jordan Addison, Boston College's Zay Flowers, North Carolina's Josh Downs, Cincinnati's Tyler Scott, Oklahoma's Marvin Mims and Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt are all sub-185-pound targets.
Somewhere along the way, the Volunteers' Cedric Tillman had been forgotten, despite the potential to be a true X receiver. Tillman played in only six games last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery. As a result, the 6'3", 213-pound wide receiver didn't build any momentum going into this predraft cycle, though Tillman did post a 1,000-yard campaign the previous year.
The redshirt senior prospect fared particularly well against top competition over the last two seasons. Since the start of October 2021, Tillman caught 50 passes for 767 yards in seven games against Top 25 opponents.
Tillman brings size, vertical explosiveness and excellent ball skills. Those traits are well worth first-round consideration.
TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
The Iowa tight end pipeline is impressive, and Sam LaPorta is the next in line.
Physically, his predraft testing is eerily reminiscent of what Hawkeye alum George Kittle posted before becoming a fifth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. LaPorta is a 6'3", 245-pound target with sub-4.6-second 40-yard-dash speed and a 35-inch vertical.
To be clear, the comparison is based on athletic traits—they don't have the same skill sets.
Kittle entered the league as a raw receiver after not being used extensively in the Hawkeyes' offense, but he was already a dominant blocker. LaPorta is the exact opposite. Iowa used its latest tight end as the focal point of the passing game, but he needs far more work at the point of attack.
Even so, LaPorta's potential contributions as a receiver is where his value lies for a team in search of another offensive threat. The first-team All-Big Ten performer left the program as its all-time leader among tight ends in career receptions and receiving yardage.
