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Oregon Football: Predicting where top 2021 NFL Draft prospects will land

By Connor Muldowney

Apr 20, 2019; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Penei Sewell (58) blocks a defender during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium. Mighty Oregon beat Fighting Ducks 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2019; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Penei Sewell (58) blocks a defender during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium. Mighty Oregon beat Fighting Ducks 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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EUGENE, OREGON – NOVEMBER 30: Oregon Ducks cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. #4 reacts to a play during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – NOVEMBER 30: Oregon Ducks cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. #4 reacts to a play during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Thomas Graham Jr.. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. CB. No. 160 overall. 3. player. 32

When the 2020 season was up in the air, Thomas Graham Jr. took matters into his own hands and opted out, joining a handful of Oregon teammates in skipping the campaign.

The Pac-12 ended up returning for a shortened season, but Graham remained out, preparing for the NFL draft instead of improving his draft stock. He probably could have benefitted from returning for one final season and working on that stock as he sits as a 4-5 rounder, at best. He could always sneak into a higher round and he could always fall, but I see him going No. 160 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona is one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL and the offense seems to be the strength right now, so adding a mid-round defensive back with impressive potential would be ideal.

Graham was the No. 85 overall prospect and 11th-best cornerback in the country in the 2017 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He was a second-team all-conference member twice and was the only returning player in 2020 (before he opted out) with double-digit pass breakups in the two previous seasons, according to his Oregon bio. He finished his career with 183 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, and 32 pass breakups.

Arizona gets a hidden gem here in the fifth round as Graham could become one of those under-the-radar stars early in his NFL career.

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