Top 5 Biggest Boom or Bust NFL Draft Prospects

Drafting any player comes with inherent risks, but some players are more dangerous than others.  These five players could have tremendous NFL careers or they could be a punchline.

1. Josh Allen – Quarterback – Wyoming

At 6’5” 233, Josh Allen looks like an NFL quarterback.  He is also an excellent athlete, but what really gets people excited about Josh Allen is his arm talent.  Allen has one of the biggest arms the NFL draft has seen in recent memory. Allen, however, played at a mid-major and struggled against better competition.  Most concerning, however, is his completion percentage of 56.2. Allen has all the traits NFL teams covet, but can he put it together in order to efficiently manage an offense?

2. Arden Key – Edge – LSU

Arden Key may have been a first-round pick and possibly the second edge rusher off the board if he had come out after the 2016 season.  That year he had 55 tackles and 11 sacks and looked like a monster on the field. Over the last year, however, a lot of question marks have arisen.  Key had off-season shoulder surgery and stepped away from the team during the spring. Why he did this is not publicly known, but certainly a question he is being asked by every NFL franchise.  He also had major fluctuations in his weight, a finger injury, and a poor final season. He went to the combine with a lot to prove, but came in lighter than he should be at his position, but still did not stand out in athletic testing.

3. Harold Landry – Edge – Boston College

Like Key, Harold Landry was extremely impressive in 2016.  Landry had 50 tackles and 16.5 sacks that season. This season came with injury and disappointment.  Landry was only able to play in nine games due to an ankle injury, and when he came back he was not the same.  Landry has the ability to be a dominant speed rusher in the NFL if he can stay healthy and add some pass rush moves.

4. Lamar Jackson – Quarterback – Louisville

We all know that he is a great athlete.  Much like Allen, the biggest issue with Lamar Jackson is his completion percentage.  Jackson’s career completion percentage was 57. Unlike Allen, who consistently completed about 56 percent of his passes, Jackson has shown improvement in this area and completed 59.1 percent of his passes this past season.  Jackson does have some technique issues to clean up, but he has a quick release and excellent athletic ability. If those things can be cleaned up, Jackson could be a star in the NFL.

5. Orlando Brown – Offensive Tackle – Oklahoma

Orlando Brown has major issues on film that many seemed to ignore before his abysmal performance at the NFL combine.  He is a very large human being, and can certainly dominate his opponent at times, but he had his struggles as well. His lack of athleticism was clear on film.  He does not move well and struggles in pass protection. Brown needs to get in better shape, and probably should be playing right tackle. He has massive upside but could be a complete bust if he does not get in better shape.

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