Failed 5-star picks? These former college prospects can slip in the NFL Draft

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns have been no strangers to taking chances on players in the NFL Draft that had high accolades on their way to college. Andrew Berry did it early in his tenure as Browns general manager by dipping into the pool of former five-star college prospects. This draft has nearly two dozen players who came out of high school with five-star ratings, and few of them are likely to go in the first round of the draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. In fact, three of them are from Ohio State: linebacker Sonny Styles, receiver Carnell Tate and safety Caleb Downs. Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor also are expected to be gone by the end of Thursday night, but that leaves plenty of prospects who could fall despite their high rating within the last few years. Here is the breakdown: The 2022 recruiting class in college football had 35 five-star prospects, according to 247 Sports. Fifteen are in this draft. Allar was the highest-rated quarterback in the country, coming out of Medina. He appeared poised to be a first-round pick at Penn State through last season, but a broken left ankle in October derailed his hopes. The Nittany Lions also were off to a disappointing start, which led to James Franklin’s dismissal. “Allar has the arm talent to play in any offense in the NFL,” according to Pro Football Focus, “but he was gun-shy and too inaccurate in 2025. He’s a developmental toolsy prospect who needs some time to refine his game.” At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Allar has all of the tools to be a prototypical NFL quarterback. He is expected to fall in this draft after expected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and borderline first-round pick Ty Simpson of Alabama. There are six former five-star prospects from the 2023 recruiting class in this draft. Of the 33 former five-star players, as rated by 247 Sports, most will remain in college football this fall. Branch was arrested last weekend in Athens, Ga., on two potential misdemeanor charges of obstructing public walkways and obstructing a law enforcement officer, according to Athens Clarke County Police. Branch was reportedly in Athens for Georgia’s spring game. His younger brother, Zion, plays safety for the Bulldogs. Branch had been projected to go as high as the second round, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Time will tell if this development affects his draft positioning. Tate, Downs, Mauigoa and Proctor also were five-star prospects from the 2023 recruiting class. It is noteworthy that one of Branch’s teammates, tackle Monroe Freeling, was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. In fact, Freeling was the highest-rated player at four stars in that class by 247 Sports. He has been linked to the Browns as a potential pick. Campbell stayed in state to play for the Longhorns, who recruited him out of Arlington Bowie. A top 25 prospect in the Class of 2022, Campbell started 43 games at Texas. He is ranked 173rd in this draft by PFF, which gave him grades in the 70s as a pass and run blocker. His best games last year came against Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Arkansas. ESPN ranks him as the 18th-best guard in this draft at a position that is led by Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane. Coincidentally, Ioane was the 18th-ranked interior offensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class as a three-star prospect when Campbell was No. 1. Expect Dennis-Sutton to go on Day 2, as PFF ranks him 67th overall. The Nittany Lions recruited him out of McDonogh School in Maryland. Dennis-Sutton had 8.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons at Penn State. He projects as a 3-4 defensive end, but could play in a 4-3 scheme. “His length and size are clear strengths,” according to PFF, “though his agility in space is more limited. With ascending play, he could be drafted higher than his current tape suggests.” Everette took the IMG Academy route before joining the Bulldogs. He played 14 games as a true freshman on their national championship team and had his best year, statistically, in 2024 as a junior with 45 tackles and three interceptions. Last season, Everette had 29 tackles and one interception. He also could go on Day 2 of the draft, ranked 89th by PFF. Hill is from the 2023 recruiting class, where he ranked 17th nationally as an in-state recruit for Texas. He was tops among linebackers and could go by the end of Day 2 on Friday. PFF ranks him 86th overall and likes him as a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Hill put up career highs as a sophomore in 2024 with 59 solo tackles, eight sacks and a whopping 16.5 tackles for loss. Last season, he played six fewer games because of a broken hand in November. Hill finished with 37 tackles, four sacks and seven TFL. Jackson arrived at USC as a top 15 prospect from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif. Only Travis Hunter was more coveted as a cornerback in the Class of 2022. However, Jackson transferred to Alabama after two seasons. He had a promising junior season in 2024 with 27 solo tackles and two interceptions. Last season, he had 26 tackles and no interceptions in 15 games. PFF ranks Jackson 227th among players in this draft. Jones’ stock also fell since arriving at Georgia as the No. 2 edge rusher in the 2022 class behind Jihaad Campbell, who is now with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, Jones is ranked 378th by PFF in this draft class. He had eight career sacks, two last season and four in 2024. Klubnik followed Drew Allar as the No. 2 quarterback in their recruiting class and a top 15 prospect overall, arriving at Clemson from Austin Westlake in Texas. He started three years for Dabo Swinney, completing 64% of his passes in 49 career games. Klubnik threw for 2,943 yards and 16 touchdowns to six interceptions last season, but had 3,639 yards and 36 TDs to six interceptions the previous year. He could go on Day 2 or 3, as PFF ranks him 166th overall. “There’s a good chance he lacks the physical traits or arm talent to be a long-term starter in the pro game,” according to the scouting service. “He’ll have to be an assassin in his pre-snap reads and post-snap recognition to be a starter — but at worst, he is a preferred long-term backup.” A Texas A&M recruit in 2022, Lucas was a borderline top 30 prospect. He could go on Day 2, as the 6-foot-5, 285-pounder is ranked 109th by PFF. “Lucas has an NFL-ready frame and good overall athleticism for his size,” according to PFF, “but he does not consistently win quickly enough to project as a full-time edge rusher. His length and strength give him versatility across the front in odd schemes.” Lucas spent only one year at Texas A&M. He had three sacks last season at USC after having none in his first three seasons. Nwankpa stayed in his home state as a top 30 recruit and the No. 1-rated safety in the Class of 2022. He had three interceptions in his career, including one last year with 50 solo tackles. He could go on Day 3 of this draft, as PFF ranks him 304th overall. ESPN has him as the 22nd safety on the board, well behind Caleb Downs, Oregon’s Dillon Thierneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who was a three-star prospect and the 119th safety in the country that same year Nwankpa came out of high school. Initially at Texas A&M, Overton was part of a big recruiting class for the Aggies that included Walter Nolen and Shemar Stewart on the defensive line. Nolen transferred to Mississippi and is now with the Arizona Cardinals. Stewart stayed at A&M but is now with the Bengals. Overton transferred to Alabama after two seasons and had two productive years with the Crimson Tide. He had 26 solo tackles, six TFL and four sacks last season. He could go on Day 2 of the draft. “Overton fits best as a 3-4 defensive end with inside-out versatility,” according to PFF. “He can contribute in a 4-3 as a power end, but his lack of bend and stride length limits his ability to consistently threaten the edge.” Perkins could be a Day 3 steal, ranked outside of the top 200 by PFF in this draft class. He was a top five prospect in the country, recruited by LSU out of Cypress, Texas, in 2022. While Perkins missed most of his junior season because of injury, he came back last year with 26 solo tackles (56 total), eight TFL and four sacks. Perkins had double-digit TFL in each of his first two seasons with the Tigers. “Perkins is a unique athlete without a clear positional fit due to size and role limitations,” according to PFF. “He projects as a situational defender and special teams contributor with designed pass-rush usage.” Shaw transferred to Texas last year after three seasons at North Carolina. A 342-pounder, he had only three solo tackles in 13 games last season. The North Carolina native was a top 15 prospect in 2022, but he is not ranked by most scouting services ahead of the draft. Simpson could be a first-round pick, as the No. 2 quarterback on many boards. He is the 42nd overall prospect, according to PFF. “His limited starting experience at the college level shows up in his timing, inconsistent ball placement and uneven performance under pressure,” according to PFF. “He would benefit from landing in a situation that allows him to sit and develop early, though the physical tools and flashes suggest legitimate starting upside.” At 6-2 and 208 pounds, Simpson completed 64.5% of his passes last season as a first-year starter. He threw 28 TD passes and five interceptions. Simpson was the fourth quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, behind Allar, Klubnik and Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman. The Nittany Lions’ 2022 recruiting class had three five-star prospects with Allar, Dennis-Sutton and Singleton. While they could not deliver enough big wins in Happy Valley to save James Franklin’s job, Singleton could go on Day 2 — but likely Day 3 — of the draft. He is ranked 146th overall by PFF, which notes Singleton offers “legitimate third-down potential as a capable receiver and generally reliable pass protector, though he must eliminate the occasional negative play in pass protection.” Singleton rushed for 1,000 yards as a freshman and again as a junior. Last season, he had only 549 yards and 13 TDs.