2016 NFL Draft: 10 Prospects Whose Stock Is Plummeting

By Brad Berreman

The pre-draft process heading into the 2016 NFL Draft is rolling, with the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl now in the rear-view mirror. With the NFL Combine the next big pre-draft event on the schedule, here are 10 prospects whose stock is falling.

2016 NFL Draft: 10 Prospects Whose Stock Is Plummeting

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Georgia OT John Theus — Being a four-year starter in the SEC is a mark in Theus' favor, but Rob Rang of CBS Sports has detailed that his athletic limitations were exposed during Senior Bowl practices. He was on the rise at one point, but the prospect of having to play right tackle in he NFL hurts Theus' draft stock

Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith — Smith suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during the Fiesta Bowl, but plummeting draft stock is still a relative term in his case. Once considered a potential top-five pick, the 2015 Butkus Award winner is still projected to be a top-20 overall pick right now.

UCLA WR Jordan Payton — Rob Rang of CBS Sports.com praised Payton's Senior Bowl week work as a pass catcher and blocker, while also saying he lacks ideal speed and struggled to get separation. It's all relative at this point, but Payton's timed speed at the combine looks like something that could dampen his draft stock further.

Georgia OLB Jordan Jenkins — Rotoworld's Josh Norris suggested that Jenkins was having an "identity crisis" during Senior Bowl practices by trying to show show speed and agility as a pass rusher when his best assets are strength and power. I had Jenkins as a late first-round pick in one of my mock drafts late in the season, but he now looks more like a Day 2 pick.

Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge — Burbridge was productive as Connor Cook's No. 1 target during the 2015 season, with 85 receptions for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns, but his hand size measurement at the Senior Bowl (eight inches) is cause for concern. Hand size is more important for quarterbacks in the big picture, but it's worth wondering if some teams will now turn away from Burbridge during the draft.

Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo — Off the field and durability questions from this past season followed Carroo to the Senior Bowl, then he measured out small (5-foot-11-7/8) and had to pull out of the game with an ankle issue. There's no denying Carroo's talent level and production (39 receptions for 809 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2015 season), but his draft stock is clearly on the decline.

Alabama RB Kenyan Drake — Drake drew some comparisons to Reggie Bush at the Senior Bowl, but otherwise he got black marks for dropped passes and struggles in pass protection during the practice week. For a back who doesn't project to an every-down role at the next level, Drake's Senior Bowl performance does not appear to have been nearly good enough.

TCU QB Trevone Boykin — An off-field incident that led to Boykin being suspended for TCU's bowl game was bad enough, but he seems focused on trying to play quarterback at the next level which reportedly cost him a Senior Bowl invitation. A position switch, perhaps to wide receiver, is inevitable, and as long as Boykin resists the possibility his draft stock may suffer.

Baylor DE Shawn Oakman — Rob Rang of CBS Sports.com ripped Oakman's showing during Senior Bowl practices, saying a picture of the Baylor defensive lineman could be under the old scouting cliche "looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane" and he may have higher upside "in professional wrestling or body building." Oakman is physically imposing, at 6-foot-7 and 269 pounds, but he has clearly started the draft process off on the wrong foot.

Michigan State QB Connor Cook — Cook dealt with a shoulder issue late in the season, but Senior Bowl director Phil Savage still called him as a healthy player who skipped the event. Add questions about his attitude, and a report from Tony Pauline of Draft Insider.net that his Michigan State teammates have been "less than effusive in their praise", and Cook no longer looks like the first-round lock he once did.

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