McShay projects Vita Vea top 10, Luke Falk second round in NFL draft
Feb 26, 2018, 2:24 PM | Updated: 2:36 pm
Could WSU quarterback Luke Falk go as early as the second round in the 2018 NFL Draft? (AP)
(AP)
The NFL draft is months away, but college players will be putting their skills to the test in front of scouts this week at the combine in Indianapolis. While there’s still plenty to prove for these players, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay joined Brock and Salk to dish out some early NFL draft grades for local prospects Vita Vea, Hercules Mata’afa, Dante Pettis, and Luke Falk.
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Vita Vea, DT, Washington
“I would say top 10. There’s a good chance that we see four quarterbacks go in the Top 10 … but then you start to look at it between the Bucs, the Bears, the 49ers, the Raiders, then you get to the Bengals at 12. I think somewhere in that range. It would be hard for me to imagine that he gets out of the top 15. The tape is really good. And if he’s as good a person as I’ve heard, and loves the game, and works at it the way I hear, and if he works out the way he’s rumored to work out, and put up numbers at that size, it’s hard… those guys don’t come around very often. You’ve got to take advantage.”
Hercules Mata’afa, DE, Washington State
“His ability to get pressure on the quarterback is what makes him interesting. I think, ultimately, probably third (or) fourth round. Somewhere in that range. I’m interested to see what his real size is and then what he works out at at that size at the combine. I think that’s going to be an interesting thing with him. Because he’s obviously a little bit undersized, but (he) can penetrate and he can disrupt.”
Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
“I’m interested to see what he runs. For some reason, I just kind of always thought he was an average player, a good player. And then this year, the more I watched him the more explosiveness I saw out of him. Obviously in the return game, and his ability to get down the field. I think there’s a really good chance he ends up going as early as the second round. I’ll be shocked if he gets out of the second day to the fourth round. I think he’s probably going to be a second-round pick.”
Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
“I would say second round. I like this guy, man. I think he lacks elite arm strength, I get it. But I think he’s really an intelligent quarterback (and) I love his anticipation. I thought he was the most consistent quarterback all week long at the Senior Bowl with his accuracy and his timing. I think in the right system (he could succeed). You put him somewhere where you’re playing a lot of dome games or playing in good weather, (where) arm strength isn’t a huge deal. I don’t think he’s going to fit in the NFC North, but I think in a lot of places he would be a really good fit and he’s got a chance to surprise some people and develop into a starter in the NFL.”
