Todd Gurley Suspension Will Not Hurt NFL Draft Stock
After the indefinite suspension of Georgia Bulldogs RB Todd Gurley was announced, panic ensued among Georgia fans. Teammates and coaches expressed disappointment while others reacted as if Gurley will never play football again. One group not panicking over the suspension is the NFL. That’s because Gurley’s suspension, even if it ends his season, has no negative effect on his NFL Draft stock.
Georgia fans should be upset over this ordeal. The absence of college football‘s top running back could lead to the Bulldogs’ playoff hopes being dashed. Nick Chubb has been productive in limited action this season, but he’s nowhere near the offensive weapon Gurley is. While this is a disappointment for fans of the school, Gurley fans have nothing to worry about.
Back in 2011, two players with eligibility issues were selected in the first four picks of the NFL Draft. QB Cam Newton was found to be ineligible twice during his only season with the Auburn Tigers, but he was reinstated on both occasions before missing a game. Newton would go on to be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick.
Three picks later, the Cincinnati Bengals selected another University of Georgia player, WR A.J. Green. Unlike Newton, Green actually missed time. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season after selling his Independence Bowl game jersey. Despite the suspension, Green was still selected two picks ahead of another highly-regarded receiver, Julio Jones.
Most recently, former Texas A&M Aggies QB Johnny Manziel was drafted in the first round in 2014 after allegedly breaking the same rule Gurley is accused of. Ultimately, Manziel was drafted No. 22 overall, which was around where many NFL teams had him rated.
Like the three players mentioned above, Gurley will be a first-round pick. The only thing that could cause him to fall out of Round 1 would be a serious injury. In that sense, it may be beneficial if Gurley doesn’t return this season. Prior to last season, rumors began circulating that South Carolina Gamecocks DE Jadeveon Clowney was being told to sit out his junior season in order to secure the No. 1 selection. For the elite college football players, there’s a point in which their stock can not go any higher. Gurley is at that point. He has proven to have what it takes to be a three-down workhorse in the NFL. He will still be the first running back selected in the 2015 NFL Draft and will be the first RB taken in the first round since 2012.
This incident won’t even throw up a red flag in NFL offices. With actual issues such as domestic violence and drug abuse at the forefront of the league’s troubles, Gurley’s infraction carries even less weight than it would have in previous years.
When evaluating Gurley, I see the best offensive player available. Of course the value of the RB position will prevent him from going first overall. In the end, there is still a very good chance Gurley ends up being selected in the top 10 picks of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Shawn Spencer is an NFL Draft writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencer_NFL, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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