Ohio State Players Entering the NFL Draft Highly Thought of by ‘The Man’
Who better to spot talent than one of the greatest general managers in NFL history.
When it comes to evaluating NFL talent, Gil Brandt of NFL.com is “The Man”. No man’s opinions are more respected than his in that regard. The legendary general manager of the Dallas Cowboys appears to be high on Ohio State players who are about to enter the NFL draft.
Those of you who may not be familiar with Brandt’s abilities to evaluate talent, he was the GM who orchestrated the great run by the Dallas Cowboys from the 1960s to the mid ‘80s. And he could spot talent anywhere.
Brandt drafted quarterback Roger Staubach from the Naval Academy knowing he was obligated to perform four years of military service following graduation. He also drafted basketball player Cornell Green, who had never played a game of college football. And of course there was “The Rocket” Bob Hayes, who was known more for being the “World’s fastest man” than for his playing days at Florida A&M University.
Staubach and Hayes are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Green was a five time Pro Bowl player. I could cite other examples where the former Cowboys GM spotted talented players who others missed on, but I think it’s enough to just say that Gil Brandt knows talent when he sees it.
Well, here is how Brandt has Ohio State players ranked in his Top 150 leading up to the draft:
- CB Marshon Lattimore No. 4
- S Malik Hooker No 6
- CB Gareon Conley No. 11
- RB Curtis Samuel No. 35
- C Pat Elflein No. 52
- LB Raekwon McMillan No. 72
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Brandt has Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker ranked right up there as solid top 10 picks like most NFL mock drafts. Many now have Gareon Conley as a solid first round pick, but evidently Brandt is really high on the Ohio State cornerback. Everybody who has watched Conley play for the Buckeyes would agree with his assessment.
At No. 35, Samuel is ranked higher than most have him being chosen, just about where I think he will be picked. I think he will be a draft day surprise, going late in the first round or early second. If Samuel becomes a star in the NFL like I think he can be, would you want to be a GM who passed on him when he was still around at that point?
Pat Elflein is ranked a little higher than many others have him rated, and Raekwon McMillan a little lower, but in the same ballpark. In a different era, when more importance was placed on the middle linebacker position, I’m sure McMillan would have been rated higher by Brandt.
When Gil Brandt was building those Cowboy teams in the ’60s, he used an innovative concept of drafting players that is used by many NFL teams today. He emphasized choosing the best player available instead of one at a position of need. He was always evaluating every available player regardless of what position they played.
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So I think if he were still the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys today, Gil Brandt may be keeping his eye on the Ohio State players left on the board when his draft pick was coming up. He seems to think highly of these Buckeyes.