Five former Miami Hurricanes will be waiting to hear their names called in the NFL Draft this weekend. Defensive ends Jaelan Phillips, Greg Rousseau and Quincy Roche, tight end Brevin Jordan and kicker Jose Borregales are all ranked in the top five players at their positions for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Phillips, Rousseau, Roche and Jordan are ranked in the top 100 players from the Consensus Mock Draft Database. Phillips is projected to be a first-round pick on Thursday night, Rousseau is on the cusp of the first and second round, Jordan early in the third round and Roche early in the third round.
Borregales currently projects to be an undrafted free agent. If four Miami Hurricanes are drafted in the first four rounds it would be the most since six Hurricanes were selected in the first four rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft. During the Miami Hurricanes championship eras six players drafted in the first four rounds were routine.
Phillips is the highest-ranked Hurricanes on the consensus big board. After an eye-opening pro day even for scouts, Phillips currently ranks 20th. Rousseau is straddling the first and second rounds with a ranking of 29th. Jordan is 75th and Roche 100. At 320th on the big board, it would be surprising for Borregales to be drafted.
The Chicago Bears select 20th. Chicago would be a good destination for Phillips. With the Bears, Phillips would have a chance to learn from Khalil Mack who is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers select 29th in the NFL Draft. Green Bay plays a 3-4 defense which would not be the best fit for Rousseau.
During a breakout season in 2019, Rousseau often lined up at defensive tackle on passing downs. It would be difficult to see Rousseau lining up at DT in a 3-4 defense. As a former safety and wide receiver in high school, Rousseau could always be moved to outside linebacker in a 3-4. Rousseau has also shown good coverage skills.
The 75th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft belongs to the Dallas Cowboys. Jordan would have a chance to continue the legacy Dallas has at TE. Jason Witten retired after last season and ranks second all-time among TEs and fourth overall in NFL History in receptions. Jordan would probably have a chance to work with Witten.
Dreams become reality starting tonight! @Greg_R5 | @JJPhillips15 | @_Underated2 | @Brevinjordan | @F5_Jose pic.twitter.com/K1vROLXbZ2
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 29, 2021
If Roche is picked where is he ranked on the consensus big board he would be selected by the Tennesee Titans. Tennessee also plays a 3-4. Roche has often been projected as an OLB in the 3-4 despite playing as a DE in a 4-3 with both Miami and Temple prior to transferring. Tennessee was 29th in the NFL in sacks last season.
With the Titans needing to improve their pass rush, Roche would be a good edition in Music City at least as a situational pass rusher. Borregales is the highest-ranked kicker ahead of Evan McPherson of Florida. Borregales was exceptional during his one season with Miami. Borregales won the Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker.
The 2020 NFL Draft can be the one that gets Miami back to producing high-level NFL talent. If Phillips or Rousseau are selected in the first round that would be the first Miami player to go that early since tight end David Njoku in 2017. Miami needs to be able to point to producing high level NFL talent during recruiting.