By Jake Diblasio/ sports collumnist
The NFL Draft wrapped up a week ago, which has allowed fans to separate their emotions from the event and truly analyze each pick. The draft is a key time of year, as the league’s landscape changes. A tremendous draft class can turn the direction of a franchise around. On the other hand, a bad draft may take a team with Super Bowl aspirations and take them even out of playoff contention. Each team has so much riding on the draft, regardless of where they stand. Here are my three first-round steals:
1. Tyler Warren: Indianapolis Colts
Many scouts regarded Warren as the best tight end in a deep class. Warren is a very raw athlete who dominated the Big 10 during his time at Penn State. Warren has a unique ability to make big plays after the catch, thanks to his talent for breaking tackles. The Colts also very much needed a tight end to complement their quarterback, Anthony Richardson. Indianapolis has tried to fill the tight end position through the draft and free agency and could never find the answer. If the Colts had the option, it was always expected that they would draft Warren; however, the likelihood of Warren being available at pick 14 was slim. The belief was the furthest Warren would fall would be pick 10 and that the Chicago Bears would add him to their tight end room along with Cole Kemet. Warren at pick 14 may be the best value and need pick in the entire NFL Draft.
2. Malakai Starks: Baltimore Ravens
Early in the draft process, Starks seemed like a surefire prospect. He was a three-year starter on one of the best defenses in the country during that span and presented no obvious character flaws. However, as the process unfolded, it seemed increasingly likely that he would fall out of the top half of the first round. Like they do every year, the Baltimore Ravens jumped on the player falling and will now add Starks to a secondary that already consists of Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey. Hamilton, a first-round draft pick in 2022, and Starks have a chance to form the best safety duo in the league for the foreseeable future. John Harbaugh and the Ravens have been vying for a Super Bowl for a while now, and Starks could provide the necessary boost to the secondary to help them overcome their challenges.
3. Kelvin Banks: New Orleans Saints
Despite Kelvin Banks being the ninth overall pick, one could argue that it was a steal. After drafting Taliese Fuaga in the first round just a year ago, the Saints now have bookend tackles to help keep their quarterback safe. It was only a year ago when the Saints had so many question marks at the tackle spot. Franchise tackle Ryan Ramczyk was dealing with potential career-ending injuries, and former first-round pick Trevor Penning already seemed to be a bust. Now, things could not be more different, and Banks is a big reason for that. Some scouts and draft experts believed Banks was the best tackle prospect in the draft. Banks did an admirable job with the Longhorns serving as their blindside protector for Quinn Ewers. Banks’ large frame should translate precisely at the NFL level, as Banks will look to protect whoever is leading the Saints offense.
Drafting is one of the hardest aspects in all of football. So much goes into finding a player who is the right fit. Are they talented enough? Can they handle the pressure? Do they fit our scheme? Even though right now it may seem these three players are steals, a year from now that may not be the case. Players now must prove why they belong in the NFL and that they are here to stick around. While the vast majority will fizzle out and not make it, a few will make a name for themselves and even potentially become a face of the league.