2018 NFL Draft: Week 3 Prospect Stock Report

Stock Down: Defense

Byron Cowart (DT – Auburn): Auburn fans have been waiting three years for the former number one recruit in the nation to live up to the hype. Byron Cowart has played in 26 games in his college career, but has yet to start a single contest. Against an FCS program like Mercer, the Tigers would be expected to build a big lead, allowing a backup like Cowart a chance to get into the game and dominate. That didn’t happen and Cowart is running out of opportunities to impress NFL scouts.

In the 26 games Cowart has played in, he’s accumulated just 15 total tackles and only 1.5 for a loss. Against Mercer, he recorded a single stop. Even a position change from defensive end to defensive tackle hasn’t helped as the five-star recruit in the class of 2015 has failed to produce. Unless he significantly improves over the course of the season, he’ll be better off returning to Auburn for his senior season next year. If he does declare for the 2018 NFL Draft, he won’t be anything more than a seventh-round flyer.

Harold Landry (DE – Boston College): Harold Landry is a first-round talent in the 2018 NFL Draft and his performance against Notre Dame won’t change that. He continued to showcase his pass-rushing skills against Tommy Kraemer and the right side of the offensive line, however his play against the run was concerning.

The Fighting Irish ran for 515 yards in the game, and while not all of those yards were gained by running at Landry, a good chunk of them were. The defensive end, who is expected to stand up as a linebacker at the next level, struggled to protect the edge and was consistently caught out of position against the option.

Next: 2018 NFL Draft, QB stock report: Sam Darnold on the rise

Boston College doesn’t play Georgia Tech in ACC play this season so he won’t have to face the Yellow Jackets option attack. Landry will , however, get the opportunity to slow down a high-powered rushing attack in a few weeks when the Eagles travel to Louisville.