The NFL draft is arguably the most eventful week of the league’s offseason, so it makes sense that so much coverage is devoted to those fateful days in April.
But a few parts of draft coverage grow a bit stale. Look, I get it. Player comparisons are a tough task, and most draft prospects aren’t a 1:1 translation of someone already in the NFL. That said, there are draft comps that seem to endure year after year to the point of laziness. There are also some new ones for this draft that should get quite a lot of play.
Below is a helpful list of all the player comparisons you’ll be tired of hearing in the buildup to the draft.
Tyreek Hill
Let’s start with the most obvious one. Have a wide-receiver prospect who ran a good 40 time? Does this prospect seem like he could be a presence in the slot as well as a deep threat? Then do we have the player comp for you! Throw in a comparison to the Kansas City Chiefs’ electrifying wide receiver for that speedy, high-upside wideout in the draft.
Danielle Hunter
The draft is always filled with raw prospects. Some edge rushers, for instance, have great measurables and frames but maybe less-than-stellar stats. Those players always get compared to Hunter. I think this is where player comps can be an issue. Hunter had to develop his game in the league, which many defensive end prospects must do. However, by comparing all these raw defensive ends to Hunter, you’re making the Minnesota Vikings’ standout pass rusher seem more like the rule than the exception. Any given NFL team has a relatively small chance of hitting on a prospect like Hunter beyond the early rounds.
Kirk Cousins
Let’s stick with the Vikings theme. Cousins has improved his pocket presence lately and remains a pretty good NFL quarterback. Coming out of college, though, he looked more like a backup. Of course, Cousins proved the doubters wrong, so he’s a great player comparison for those pocket-passing quarterbacks you believe in. For example, Mac Jones garnered plenty of Cousins comparisons coming into the league. This one also works with Ryan Tannehill if you’re feeling really good about the prospect.
Travis Kelce
The tight end position has changed with the demands of the modern NFL. Now tight ends in the league can look more like wide receivers, especially in a high-octane offense where running the ball is less important. Kelce is the perfect player comp for those tight ends who look like they could spread out and run past defensive backs. Kyle Pitts garnered plenty of Kelce comparisons last year — and to some extent, he prevented those comparisons from looking foolish in his rookie season. More tight end prospects are bound to earn that comparison for drafts to come.
Vita Vea
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense gets a lot of credit, and rightfully so. Tampa Bay’s offense, led by Tom Brady, is one of the more efficient units in the league. However, the Buccaneers’ defense has seen some stars emerge recently. Vea is among the important fixtures of that defensive group. He is a big-bodied interior lineman who can make a significant impact as a run stopper and pass rusher. He’s quick off the ball for a player his size (347 lbs.). Inevitably, the big defensive tackles coming into the draft will be compared to the Bucs’ standout DT, which is why Georgia’s Jordan Davis has earned plenty of comparisons to Vea already.
Deebo Samuel
There is a new player comp in the mix. This season, the San Francisco 49ers have utilized Samuel as both a wide receiver and a running back. Samuel never had more than 15 rushing attempts in a season when he was at South Carolina. That means even if a wide-receiver prospect doesn’t have a lot of experience at running back, they could still potentially earn the comp. Explosive wide receivers coming into the league will garner that comparison. Based on how Samuel has endeared himself to NFL fans and how cool of a concept it is for wide receivers to run between the tackles, plenty of analysts will look to Samuel for draft content.
Micah Parsons
This one should also get a lot of play this year. Parsons projected as a true linebacker prospect, but he’s made an impact on the edge and in the pass coverage more, so than I think a lot of people anticipated. Parsons is an excellent example of a player who came into the league and found a way to make an impact in more ways than his college tape would suggest. I think that’s an optimistic projection for many linebackers, but it’s one that almost needs to happen if you’re a team drafting a linebacker early. That is why those athletic, early-round linebackers will likely earn comparisons to him.
