Day 3 of the NFL Draft has come to a close, providing a new home for 155 players. Some landed in organizations that have a clear path to success, but others have a clouded path towards play time and success, raising questions about whether they’ll be able to reach their full potential.
Which players fit that bill from Day 3?
Players Left With Question Marks Following Day 3 of the NFL Draft
Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
Sanders’ slide has been covered extensively over the past two days, culminating in his selection by the Browns at pick No. 144.
Immediately, the count began of how many QBs are on the Browns roster after they drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel with the 94th overall pick. As it stands, there are five passers currently slated to begin next season with Cleveland; in addition to Sanders and Gabriel, veterans Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco assume roster spots.
One of Pickett or Flacco will almost certainly be either waived or traded prior to training camp, but still the question arises: how will anyone “win” this QB situation?
The Browns have an awful history in terms of QB play, as well as how the organization has handled quality QB play. Cleveland traded away Baker Mayfield, let Flacco walk after a magical ending to the 2023-24 season and, overall, has watched the Watson situation implode in their faces.
To say the least, this whole QB conundrum is something the Browns will have to figure out in the coming months — with a high likelihood that nobody comes out top, including the talented Sanders.
Tyler Loop and Justin Tucker, Kicker(s), Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finally did it. For the first time in the franchise’s 30-year history, they selected a kicker in the NFL Draft.
It comes at an interesting time, for lack of a better word.
Baltimore has enjoyed stability for the past 13 seasons at the kicker position with the most accurate player in NFL history in five-time All-Pro Justin Tucker.
But things have gone south for Tucker over the last calendar year.
On the field, his accuracy began to slip for the first time in his career, as he converted on a career-worst 73.3% of his field goals and tied a career-high with two missed extra points.
Off the field, he was accused of “inappropriate behavior by 16 massage therapists,” according to ESPN. That has put his career in jeopardy and forced the Ravens to look elsewhere for a kicker.
Does the addition of Loop — who finished his career as the most accurate field goal kicker in Arizona Wildcat history — mean the end of Tucker’s time with the organization? Only time will tell, but for now both Loop and Tucker’s futures are in question.
Tommy Mellott, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Not all players facing question marks heading into their pro careers represent bad things. In Mellott’s case, it’s just a question of where he’ll be placed on the field and how he’ll develop into potentially contributing.
Drafted as a wide receiver, Mellott led the Montana State Bobcats at QB for each of the past three seasons. During his career, he threw for 55 touchdowns but where he really made a difference was with his legs in rushing for over 3,000 yards and 43 touchdowns.
He also totaled three catches for 20 yards and a touchdown for the Bobcats — which is where he’s aiming to specialize in at the NFL level. He’s extremely athletic with a shifty running style. A pro comp would be Julian Edelman, who quarterbacked the Kent State Golden Flashes before being drafted at No. 232 in 2009 and going on to an extremely successful career as one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets.
It remains to be seen what the former Bobcat QB’s pro career will look like, but the move he’s making isn’t unprecedented which provides hope that he can turn himself into a reliable slot receiver for the Raiders. If Las Vegas desires, he could also take some snaps as a wildcat QB.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Miami Dolphins
At the end of the day, this isn’t a bad landing spot for Ewers. In fact, head coach Mike McDaniel’s work with starting QB Tua Tagovailoa inspires belief that he could get the most out of Ewers in the pros.
Instead, it’s how far the former Texas Longhorns’ signal-caller fell — all the way to the seventh round at No. 231.
Despite leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals in early 2025, it was apparent that Arch Manning would be Texas’ QB moving forward. Ewers had two choices: place his name into the transfer portal and make millions in NIL or enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
He chose the latter, and the uncertainty surrounding his skill set led to his slide in the draft. Talented yet unrefined, with clear arm talent but lacking zip, Ewers put forth a conundrum for NFL decision-makers.
KEEP READING: List of Draft Picks by School, 2025 NFL Draft
After being the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, what’s the outlook of Ewers’ pro career? It may be as clouded and unknown as any prospect in this entire draft, including Sanders.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
