3. Jachai Polite, EDGE
Heading into the 2019 NFL Draft, Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite was a name that was starting to creep into the top half of many mock drafts. He burst onto the scene in 2018 and became a name to watch due to his pass rushing prowess.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Then, the Scouting Combine came and Polite saw his stock plummet. Poor workouts and worse interviews hurt the edge rusher. His journey from first-round talent to falling prospect is detailed by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who says Polite moved into the “boom-or-bust category”:
"Just one year of big-time production, but he’s an instinctive rusher with natural feel for attacking the pocket. Polite’s frightening speed to the edge on tape was missing in his pre-draft workouts as he showed up much heavier and with purported hamstring issues during all of his testing. The game tape shows an ability to rush the pocket with a fluid, diverse attack, but he might not have the grit necessary to play the run as a 3-4 outside linebacker on early downs. His troubling post-season that included bad combine interviews, bad workouts and additional weight around the midsection has substantially clouded his draft standing into the boom-or-bust category."
Polite ended up being selected as the fourth pick in the third round and finds himself looking to prove himself with the Jets. Should he end up playing more like the guy we saw on tape at Florida than the one who struggled during the Combine, this will be quite the steal. Training camp gives him the first chance to prove himself as more of the boom, than the bust. That makes the coming weeks very important for him as he looks to silence his critics.